F2 Logistics announced Friday that it will not be participating in the upcoming PVL Open Conference, citing injuries and a disrupted training period.
The Cargo Movers had been training inside a "bubble" in Batangas for the past month in preparation for their maiden voyage as a professional team. However, the team said it's preparations were inadequate and hampered by several developments.
"We should have been training in a bubble earlier, but due to unfavorable logistical circumstances, we needed to move not only the venue, but also the start of our bubble training. Since it has been more than a year of no actual training, old injuries and even new, have surfaced," said the team in a statement. "These injuries are not to be taken lightly and should we push through, these injuries might progress further and could possibly cost the athletic careers of some. Our athletes need a little more time to recover."
The team also clarified that they were pulling out only from the Open Conference, and not the whole season.
F2, five-time champions in the Philippine Superliga, had just jumped ship to the newly professionalized PVL last March and as such, Filipino fans have been eagerly anticipating the best of the best finally getting to go at it on the taraflex.
Now, the Open Conference has two teams backing out before its planned opening in Laoag, Ilocos Norte on July 17.
Initially, the team requested the PVL to move its opening a few days ahead, but the league shot it down.
"Though we have requested for a little extension, we highly respect the decision of the league to push through. As it was hard for us to anticipate league timelines, we are sure it was equally if not harder for the league to secure permits, place protocols and update all teams," furthered the statement. "This league deserves a better version of our team. We will work harder to achieve that for the next conference."
Unlimited Athletics Club was first to take a leave of absence, citing "lack of preparation," according to tournament director Tony Boy Liao.
From the initial 12, the count is now down to 10 teams: BaliPure, Perlas Spikers, Cignal HD, Creamline, Chery Tiggo, Choco Mucho, PLDT, Petro Gazz, Philippine Army, and Sta. Lucia.
On Thursday, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc approved the PVL's request to hold its Open Conference in a bubble in Laoag from July 17 to August 20. Up first will be a a single round-robin elimination round, after which the top four face off in a best-of-three semifinals.
The winners of each semis matchup will then duel in another best-of-three series for the first-ever championship as a professional league.