The Premier Volleyball League is set to overhaul its All-Filipino Conference next season, replacing the usual tournament setup with a three-part competition that will determine the league’s first Philippine Grand Champion.
PVL competition director Sherwin Malonzo announced on Monday that the 2026-27 campaign will be played through three series, with the results of the opening two stages carrying over to the final phase.
The first series is scheduled from October 10 to December 3 and will feature a single round-robin elimination. Teams will face each other once, but unlike the succeeding stages, every player listed on the game sheet must be given playing time.
The rule, which was also used during the PVL on Tour, is intended to provide opportunities for the entire roster.
The top four teams after the opening series will qualify for the semifinals. The No. 1 seed will face No. 4 with a twice-to-beat advantage, while No. 2 will enjoy the same cushion against No. 3.
The semifinal winners will then contest a best-of-three series for the first-series championship.
The second series will retain the same general structure, including the semifinals and championship round, but will remove the mandatory playing-time provision.
Coaches will be allowed to manage their lineups freely and use their preferred rotations throughout the competition.
Results from both series will be converted into points and combined to establish the overall rankings heading into the final stage. This means teams must remain competitive across the first two series to secure a favorable position in the race for the overall title.
The third series will use a stepladder system based on those cumulative standings.
The top two teams will be rewarded with direct semifinal berths, while the rest of the field will go through a stepladder phase to determine the final two semifinalists. The PVL has yet to release the complete details of that portion of the tournament.
Once the Final Four is completed, the No. 1 team will take on No. 4, while No. 2 will meet No. 3 in best-of-three semifinal matchups.
The two semifinal winners will advance to the best-of-three Finals, with the champion earning the distinction of PVL Philippine Grand Champion.
Although the first two series will also produce individual champions, the ultimate prize will be decided in the third and final stage of the extended All-Filipino Conference. (Adrian Co)
