MANILA, Philippines – Two much-anticipated Pool A matches took place in Batangas City over the weekend, marking the return of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour. The Petro Gazz Angels and Choco Mucho Flying Titans, two of the league’s strongest teams, competed against younger teams in a pre-Invitational Conference matchup to gauge roster depth and tactical preparedness. The weekend’s volleyball matches at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum showcased top-tier play and provided a glimpse into how the participating clubs are handling player rotations without important national team members.

After winning the All-Filipino Conference, Petro Gazz were full of confidence heading into the Batangas leg, albeit without stars MJ Phillips and Brooke Van Sickle, who were away with the Philippine national team. They were replaced by a veteran core that the Angels depended on, which included Jonah Sabete, Myla Pablo, Nicole Tiamzon, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Ranya Musa, and Joy Dacoron. The team’s floor defense was led by Jellie Tempiatura and Baby Love Barbon, while setters Chie Saet and Djanel Cheng were in charge of orchestration. This setup prioritized continuity and veteran knowledge, even though the squad was open to trying out backup plans.

After coming ninth in their last conference, the Galeries Tower Highrisers were still trying to figure out who they were as a team as they faced Petro Gazz. Galeries Tower, coached by Lerma Giron, included both young and seasoned players on the court. Veteran players Dimdim Pacres, Roselle Baliton, and Ysa Jimenez helped support Jewel Encarnacion, France Ronquillo, and Ysa Jimenez on offense. Fhen Emnas, the setter, was supposed to keep the offense balanced and control the pace. Because their leading scorers weren’t available, the Highrisers focused on finding ways to beat Petro Gazz’s modified system.

The Choco Mucho Flying Titans and the Nxled Chameleons met in the nighttime encounter. Choco Mucho, similar to Petro Gazz, was without important player Tia Andaya because she is also with the national squad. The Titans, though, kept their cool and produced a lot of firepower thanks to a solid roster that included Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Desiree Cheng, Isa Molde, and Royse Tubino. Cherry Nunag and Lorraine Pecaña, who were middle blocks and offered height and stability in the net, were also beneficial to the team. Choco Mucho shifted their offensive rhythm and gave their backup setters more playing time while their principal setter was out with an injury.

Conversely, Nxled entered the fixture determined to prove himself. The Chameleons were refocused and aggressive going into the Batangas leg after an underwhelming All-Filipino Conference performance. May Luna, Lucille Almonte, EJ Laure, Lycha Ebon, and Chiara Permentilla were important attacking weapons. Nxled hoped to take advantage of any weaknesses in Choco Mucho’s new roster by enhancing their cohesion and defensive awareness. The squad aimed to disrupt Choco Mucho’s passing lanes and fast plays by focusing on their transition defense and service pressure.

The Batangas leg was an early test of Petro Gazz’s and Choco Mucho’s rotational adaptability and a testing ground for their reserve players. The coaching staffs of both teams placed an emphasis on systematic play, communication, and situational awareness due to the absence of their respective stars. While coaches were able to gauge long-term depth, these games gave underutilised and younger players a chance to show what they could do in a competitive setting.

Both top-tier teams will have the opportunity to change their strategies for Sunday’s rematches based on performance indicators from the previous day. Petro Gazz will be facing Nxled, and Choco Mucho will be against Galeries Tower. Underdogs try to take advantage of scouting data and exhaustion in these return matches, while favorites try to demonstrate their dominance and improve tactical execution, so there’s a good chance that momentum can flip dramatically.

The PVL On Tour’s Batangas stop has, off the court, further solidified the league’s goal of reaching out to communities outside of Metro Manila. Regional centers have seen the sport’s rising popularity reflected in large crowds, local excitement, and robust community involvement. Competitions like this do more than only highlight top players; they also attract new fans, spark interest at the community level, and further establish volleyball as a cherished sport in the United States.