The 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference was the tenth conference of the Premier Volleyball League, its first conference as a professional league, and the only conference of the 2021 season. The conference started on July 17, 2021 and ended on August 13, 2021, at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte in a bubble. The PVL has been approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to begin team practices to be followed by the official start of the 2021 season.
In January 2021, it was reported that Motolite filed a leave of absence from the league and released all of its players. The Philippine Army Lady Troopers will participate as a guest team.
Five teams from Philippine Super Liga joined the PVL – Chery Tiggo Crossovers, Cignal HD Spikers, F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters and Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors. On July 9, 2021, F2 Logistics announced it will not participate in the Open Conference citing injuries and lack of training due to difficulties maintaining their training bubble.
A newly-established team, the UAC Power Hitters, joined the league but announced in June that it will not compete in the Open Conference as it has not formed a team in time for the conference.
Participating teams
Abbr. Team Affiliation Head coach Team captain BLP BaliPure Purest Water Defenders Balibago Waterworks System, Inc. Rommel Abella Alina Bicar BMA Black Mamba Army Lady Troopers Philippine Army / Corbridge Group Kungfu Reyes Jovelyn Gonzaga CHD Cignal HD Spikers Cignal TV, Inc. Shaq Delos Santos Rachel Daquis CTC Chery Tiggo Crossovers United Asia Automotive Group, Inc. Aaron Vélez Jaja Santiago CMF Choco Mucho Flying Titans Republic Biscuit Corporation Oliver Almadro Maddie Madayag CCS Creamline Cool Smashers Republic Biscuit Corporation Anusorn Bundit Alyssa Valdez PRL Perlas Spikers Beach Volleyball Republic / Cosmetique Asia Corporation Reynaldo Diaz Jr. Jem Ferrer PGA Petro Gazz Angels PetroGazz Ventures Phils. Corp. Arnold Laniog Chie Saet PLD PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company Roger Gorayeb Rhea Dimaculangan SLR Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors Sta. Lucia Realty and Development Corporation Eddieson Orcullo Rubie de Leon
Venue The 2021 Premier Volleyball League Open Conference held its first game at the Centennial Arena in Laoag, Ilocos Norte as an isolation zone (bubble). But since Laoag is under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine days before the tournament, teams temporarily moved the venue to PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. The conference began July 17, 2021, the bubble accommodated 11 teams.
The original schedule of the 2021 bubble was supposed to be in February or March. Ricky Palou, president of Sports Vision Management (organizers of the PVL), said that they did not want to compete with basketball as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is having an international tournament in February. Philippine men's basketball team will hold practices and will compete for the February window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification to be held also at the Inspire Sports Academy.
Cignal TV will be the official broadcast partner under a 3-year contract.
Training venues The following venues served as the training ground of the PVL teams as approved by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Abbr. Team Training venue(s) Ref. BLP BaliPure Purest Water Defenders Colegio de Sebastian Gym, San Fernando, Pampanga BMA Black Mamba Army Lady Troopers Philippine Army Gym, Taguig CHD Cignal HD Spikers Splendido Country Club, Laurel, Batangas CTC Chery Tiggo Crossovers Subic Bay Free Port CMF Choco Mucho Flying TitansSt. Paul American School – Clark, Pampanga CCS Creamline Cool Smashers PRL Perlas Spikers St. Vincent Gym, Baguio PGA Petro Gazz Angels Santa Maria, Bulacan PLD PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters Splendido Hotel, Alfonso, Cavite SLR Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall Gym, Cainta, Rizal
Transactions National team players The following players were part of the national team that competed in 2019 international games. + Team Player/s Black Mamba Army Lady Troopers Jovelyn Gonzaga colspan=2 Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers Jasmine Nabor Mylene Paat Choco Mucho Flying Titans Denden Lazaro Maddie Madayag Cignal HD Spikers Roselyn Doria colspan=2 Creamline Cool Smashers Alyssa Valdez Jia Morado Petro Gazz Angels Frances Molina Grethcel Soltones Kath Arado PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters Rhea Dimaculangan colspan=2 Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors Aiza Maizo-Pontillas Mika Reyes
Team additions and transfers The following are the players who transferred to another team on the upcoming conference. Player Moving from (2019–2020 team) Moving toAlexa Mari RafaelLyceum Pirates (NCAA)BaliPure Purest Water DefendersAlina Joyce BicarPhilippine Army Lady TroopersBaliPure Purest Water DefendersBien Elaine JuanilloChef's Classics Lady Red SpikersBaliPure Purest Water DefendersCarlota HernandezMarinerang Pilipina Lady Skippers (PSL)BaliPure Purest Water DefendersGeneveve CasugodMarinerang Pilipina Lady Skippers (PSL)BaliPure Purest Water DefendersGrazielle BombitaMotolite Power BuildersBaliPure Purest Water DefendersGyra Ezra BarrogaChoco Mucho Flying TitansBaliPure Purest Water DefendersJudith AbilMarinerang Pilipina Lady Skippers (PSL)BaliPure Purest Water DefendersJulia AngelesChery Tiggo CrossoversBaliPure Purest Water DefendersLaizah Ann BendongChery Tiggo CrossoversBaliPure Purest Water DefendersRoselle BalitonPetron Blaze Spikers (PSL)BaliPure Purest Water DefendersSatriani EspirituMotolite Power BuildersBaliPure Purest Water DefendersShirley SalamagosKurashiki Ablaze (Japan)BaliPure Purest Water DefendersCzarina Grace CarandangFEU Lady Tamaraws (UAAP)Perlas SpikersMaria Angelica CayunaFEU Lady Tamaraws(UAAP)Perlas SpikersCherry Rose NunagPetro Gazz AngelsPerlas SpikersHeather Anne Guino-oCreamline Cool SmashersPerlas SpikersJellie TempiaturaMotolite Power BuildersPerlas SpikersJhoana Louisse MaraguinotSta. Lucia Lady RealtorsPerlas SpikersMichelle Kathereen MorenteF2 Logistics Cargo MoversPerlas SpikersTonnie Rose PonceCreamline Cool SmashersPerlas SpikersJaja SantiagoSaitama Ageo Medics (Japan V.League)Chery Tiggo CrossoversTina SalakPhilippine Army Lady TroopersChery Tiggo CrossoversCaitlyn VirayMarinerang Pilipina Lady Skippers (PSL)Choco Mucho Flying TitansDeanna WongAteneo Lady Eagles (UAAP)Choco Mucho Flying TitansDenden Lazaro-RevillaPetron Blaze Spikers (PSL)Choco Mucho Flying TitansJamie Isabelle LavitoriaGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)Choco Mucho Flying TitansNecole EbuenArellano Lady Chiefs (NCAA)Choco Mucho Flying TitansPauline GastonAteneo Lady Eagles (UAAP)Choco Mucho Flying TitansRegine Anne ArochaSta. Lucia Lady RealtorsChoco Mucho Flying TitansKlarissa AbriamBenilde Lady Blazers (NCAA)Cignal HD SpikersAyel EstrañeroMotolite Power BuildersCignal HD SpikersTots CarlosMotolite Power BuildersCreamline Cool SmashersElla de JesusPerlas SpikersCreamline Cool SmashersJeanette PanagaPetro Gazz AngelsCreamline Cool SmashersFrances MolinaPetron Blaze Spikers (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsGrethcel SoltonesPLDT Home Fibr Power HittersPetro Gazz AngelsIvy Jisel PerezFoton Tornadoes Blue Energy (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsJerrili MalabananPLDT Home Fibr Power HittersPetro Gazz AngelsKath AradoGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsRia MenesesGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsMean MendrezGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsRemy PalmaPetron Blaze Spikers (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsMyla PabloMotolite Power BuildersPetro Gazz AngelsSeth Marione RodriguezMarinerang Pilipina Lady Skippers (PSL)Petro Gazz AngelsAudrey Kathryn ParanNU Lady Bulldogs (UAAP)Philippine Army Lady TroopersChristine Dianne FranciscoUST Golden Tigresses (UAAP)Philippine Army Lady TroopersFenela Risha EmnasMotolite Power BuildersPhilippine Army Lady TroopersMary Anne EsguerraPetron Blaze Spikers (PSL)Philippine Army Lady TroopersChristine Joy SoyudGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)PLDT Home Fibr Power HittersIsa MoldeMotolite Power BuildersPLDT Home Fibr Power HittersMaria Nieza VirayBaliPure Purest Water DefendersPLDT Home Fibr Power HittersMariella GabardaGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)PLDT Home Fibr Power HittersMaristella Gene LayugSta. Lucia Lady RealtorsPLDT Home Fibr Power HittersRhea DimaculanganGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)PLDT Home Fibr Power HittersToni Rose BasasGenerika-Ayala Lifesavers (PSL)PLDT Home Fibr Power HittersAiza Maizo-PontillasPetron Blaze Spikers (PSL)Sta. Lucia Lady RealtorsDell PalomataPhilippine Air Force Lady Jet SpikersSta. Lucia Lady RealtorsJonah SabetePetro Gazz AngelsSta. Lucia Lady RealtorsJovielyn Grace PradoPetro Gazz AngelsSta. Lucia Lady RealtorsMaricar Nepomuceno-BaloaloaPetro Gazz AngelsSta. Lucia Lady Realtors
Coaching changes Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Replaced by Ref Cignal HD Spikers Edgar Barroga Replaced due to non-renewal of contract Cesael Delos Santos Perlas Spikers Apichat Kongsawat Replaced Reynaldo Diaz Jr.
Format Preliminary round The ten teams compete in a single round-robin tournament, with each team playing one match against all other teams for a total of nine matches. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals while the bottom six will be eliminated and ranked 5th through 10th in the final standings.
Semifinals The top four teams from the preliminary round and the top two from the quarterfinals compete in the semifinals. Teams compete in best-of-three series with the winners advancing to the finals while the losers will compete in the third place series. The match-ups for the semifinals are as follows: SF1: PR #1 vs. PR #4 SF2: PR #2 vs. PR #3
Third place series The losing teams from the semifinals compete in a best-of-three series to determine which team will finish third in this conference. If the series is tied at 1–1 when the championship is decided, the pool standing procedure will be used (starting from set ratio).
Finals The winning teams from the semifinals compete in a best-of-three series to determine the conference champions. The losing team in this round will be declared conference runners-up.
Pool standing procedure Teams are initially ranked by wins followed by match points. A win awards three points if the match lasted for three or four sets (3–0 or 3–1), or two points if the match lasted for five sets (3–2). A loss only awards one point if the match lasted for five sets (2–3).
If multiple teams tie for wins and match points, the next criteria are set ratio (the number of sets won divided by number of sets lost across all matches) and point ratio (the number of points won divided by number of points lost across all matches). If any teams are still tied, the procedure will be applied again, but only considering matches between the remaining tied teams.
Preliminary round All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00).
Ranking
Match results
Bracket
Semifinals All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00).
(1) Creamline vs. (4) Petro Gazz
(2) Chery Tiggo vs. (3) Choco Mucho
Third place series All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00).
Finals All times are Philippine Standard Time (UTC+8:00).
Final standings
RankTeamChery Tiggo CrossoversCreamline Cool SmashersPetro Gazz Angels4Choco Mucho Flying Titans5Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors6Black Mamba Army Lady Troopers7PLDT Home Fibr Power Hitters8BaliPure Purest Water Defenders9Perlas Spikers10Cignal HD Spikers
Team RosterGyzelle Sy, Jaja Santiago (c), Jasmine Nabor, Marian Alisa Buitre, Arriane Mae Layug, Mylene Paat, Maika Ortiz, Ma. Shaya Adorador, Justine Dorog, Elaine Kasilag, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Mary Joy Dacoron, Ria Beatriz Glenell Duremdes, Rachel Anne AusteroHead coachAaron Velez
Awards and medalists Individual awards