No sister team deals, ‘conduits:’ PVL set to establish player trade system for 2025

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The ever-expanding PVL steers its pro league growth measures to the player trade playground, setting stiff ground rules like bans on rookie trades and PBA-style conduit deals between sister teams

MANILA, Philippines – The Premier Volleyball League continues its crusade for long-term growth following the implementation of its first-ever rookie draft in 2024, as it now looks to introduce player trades ideally before the 2025-26 season begins.

PVL competition director Sherwin Malonzo bared the development at the weekly edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum on Tuesday, June 3, at the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila.

“Rookies cannot be traded, but we’ve already floated the idea of trading to teams,” the amiable executive said in Filipino.

“Rookies need to stay for one season before being eligible for trade. Rookie draft rights also cannot be traded.”

To maintain its firm stance on parity, the PVL is also immediately shooting down the idea of sister-team trades, which currently apply to four sets of partnering franchises.

These are Rebisco’s Creamline and Choco Mucho, PLDT and Cignal under business magnate Manny V. Pangilinan, appliance companies Akari and Nxled, and Strong Group Athletics’ Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee.

Malonzo also told reporters that players will automatically get a one-year trade ban after being traded once, in order to prevent the infamous “conduit” system happening in the PBA, where sister teams simply pass their players through supposed independent teams to game the existing trade system.

Growth and parity continue to be the PVL’s top priorities, especially ahead of the 2025 rookie draft where former NU superstar Bella Belen’s rise as the No. 1 overall pick this Sunday, June 8, at Novotel Manila, is all but a mere formality for the Capital1 Solar Spikers.

Following them, the Galeries Tower Highrisers, Farm Fresh Foxies, and Nxled Chameleons — all struggling and new franchises — are set to boost their rosters with the second, third and fourth overall picks, respectively.

Malonzo hopes to see at least 24 to 30 players gain realistic shots at getting drafted out of the 60 draft hopefuls, as teams are allowed to pass and forfeit all future rounds for the night as early as the first round. – Rappler.com