Ramon "Tats" Suzara, president of the PNVF, said, "This year's Champions League is all about the LGUs thus, we expect more thrilling matchups ahead."
"For these LGUs, it will be a pride-based conflict. It will be more competitive than last year," he continued. The competition this year is also used to choose the national teams for the following year.
The 23 teams—15 men's and eight women's teams—were assigned to their respective pools on Sunday in a virtual process overseen by PNVF Don Caringal.
The Basilan-Tennun Spikers, Cignal HD Spikers, VNS-Quezon City Griffins, and AIP-University of Baguio-Benguet Province Cardinals make up the men's Pool A.
The teams in Pool B include the Aklan Ati-Atihans, Imus City-AJAA Spikers, One Bulacan Republicans, National University (NU)-Pasay City Bulldogs, and Pikit-North Cotabato AMC G Spikers.
The Baguio City Highlanders, Bacolod City Tarags, University of the East (UE)-Cherrylume Red Warriors, Sta. Army-Taguig City Troopers and the Rosa City Lions.
The University of Batangas-Batangas City Lady Brahmans, ICC-Caloocan City Lady Bluehawks, KMS-Quezon City Lady Vikings, and Imus City-AJAA Lady Spikers make up Pool A in the women's action.
The first runner-up from the previous season, CPS-Antipolo City, the Davao City Lady Agilas, the UE Manila-Cherrylume Lady Red Warriors, and the Tomodachi Bulacan Bulakenyas are all in Pool B for the women.
Team Dasma (men) and F2 Logistics (women) in the first Champions League took first place. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
Photo: Roman Jacob Cuison