THREE of the PVL’s powerhouse squads in Creamline, Petro Gazz, and PLDT will take their acts to the continental stage in the silver anniversary of the newly-rebranded 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.
Formerly known as the Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship, the regional conclave features the cream of the crop of various Asian club competitions.
Under the leadership of newly-minted AVC and concurrent Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara, the tournament will be staged in the Philippines following the prior hosting withdrawals of South Korea and Vietnam.
Here’s all you need to know about the week-long meet from Apr. 20 to 27 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Four pools of three
The 12 teams hailing from 10 nations, including the Philippines and its three-team contingent by virtue of being the hosts, have been drawn to four pools of three in the official draw last Mar. 12 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Philippines was granted a third team allocation as a wildcard replacement for 2023-24 Japan SV.League champions NEC Red Rockets wo begged off and paved the way for the High Speed Hitters' late entry to the competition.
Also, Indonesia was unable to field representatives as the Indonesian Proliga — just like the Japanese league — is still ongoing and will coincide with the Asian meet’s schedule.
Out of the 12 teams in this year’s tournament, only four were able to reach at least the semifinals in previous editions.
Among those teams are Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima being reigning bronze medalists (2024) and former runner-up (2021).
Iran’s Saipa Tehran (2021) and Chinese Taipei’s Kaohsiung Taipower also have one top four finish apiece (2015), along with Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu that has racked up two silver (2010, 2013), two bronze (2011, 2014), and two top four placements (2009, 2012).
Tournament format
The top two teams per pool will advance to the knockout quarterfinals, while the bottom team in each pool will be eliminated from the competition, as there will no longer be a classification phase.
In one bracket, the Pool A winner will play the Pool D runner-up (A1 vs D2) and will take on whichever team wins between the Pool A runner-up and the Pool D winner (A2 vs D1) in the semifinals.
The other bracket has the Pool B winner squaring off with the Pool C runner-up (B1 vs C2) and will face the winning team between the Pool B runner-up and the Pool C winner (B2 vs C1) in the semifinals.
From there, the winning semifinalists will advance to the gold medal game while the losing semifinalists will vie for the bronze in the battle for third.
As far as the Philippine teams are concerned — granted that they do reach the knockout stage — Creamline and PLDT will be on the same bracket while Petro Gazz could be the lone PVL contingent in the other bracket.
What’s at stake?
For starters, bragging rights of being the best club team in Asia is up for grabs.
But more than that, two major incentives await for the top performing squads in the competition.
The two finalists, as previously mentioned, will secure outright qualification to the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship as Asian representatives.
Moreover, a $50,000 pot money will be split among the competition’s four semifinalists.
The champion will win $20,000 (PHP1,135,220), while the runner-up will receive $15,000 (PHP851,415).
The bronze medalists will be given $10,000 (PHP567,610) whereas the fourth-placers will take home $5,000 (PHP283,805).
Match schedules and ticket prices
The entirety of the tournament will be held at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, with match tickets available at the venue or online via ticketmax.ph.
As per the ticketing site, patron seats are priced at PHP2,550 while lower box is fixed at PHP1,550 — both of which are reserved seating.
Upper box seats that offer free seating are set at PHP550.
Moreover, here are the pool play match schedules for the three Philippine teams in the tournament:
CREAMLINE (Pool A)
- vs AL NASER (Jordan) - April 20 (Sunday), 4 p.m.
- vs ZHETYSU (Kazakhsktan) - April 21 (Monday), 7 p.m.
PETRO GAZZ (Pool B)
- vs KAOHSIUNG TAIPOWER (Chinese Taipei) - April 21 (Monday), 4 p.m.
- vs HIP HING (Hong Kong) - April 22 (Tuesday), 7 p.m.
PLDT (Pool D)
- vs QUEENSLAND PIRATES (Australia) - April 20 (Sunday), 7 p.m.
- vs NAKHON RATCHASIMA (Thailand) - April 22 (Tuesday), 4 p.m.
