CITING the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Perlas will not be seeing action in this year’s Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.

“We regret to inform everyone that, with the ongoing pandemic, the Perlas management has decided to take a leave of absence in the upcoming PVL tournament,” Perlas owner Charo Soriano told The STAR on Tuesday night.

“We wish the tournament well and we continue to support the growth of Philippine volleyball,” she added.

Reports of its leave surfaced after several of its stars transferred teams.

Dzi Gervacio went to F2 Logistics, Jem Ferrer and Cherry Nunag to Choco Mucho, Nicol Tiamzon to Petro Gazz, and Gel Cayuna to Cignal HD.

With the news, Jho Maraguinot, Jules Samonte, Mich Morente, Roma Joy Doromal, Heather Guino-o, Thang Ponce, Sue Roces, Czarina Carandang, and Jeanette Villareal have become free agents and will have to seek new clubs to join.

The decision came less than a week after Sta. Lucia also took a leave and cited the same reason.

In its four years in the league, Perlas’s highest finished was third twice in 2018. — Joey Villar

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