PSL President Laurel hopes for volleyball's return in a smashing debut for Usapang PSL

For Doc Ian Laurel, the coronavirus pandemic that had crippled the country have also impacted the Philippine Superliga as well, as they coming to terms in battling not just the health crisis, but their desire as well to return to action when the situation permits.

"Actually we got delayed," Laurel said  on the pilot episode of Usapang PSL on PinoyligaTV last Saturday evening, referring to their season opener last February 29.

Hosted by none other than Pinoyliga founder Benny Benitez and sports columnist Vincent Juico, the new series generated 18,000 views on Youtube and Facebook as the sport volleyball seeks to get back into action after the lockdown levels will be downgraded by the month of June, after their season-opener Grand Prix was halted after just three playdates, including one behind closed doors last March 10 as a precaution.

Well known in the circles as one of the most-respected pundits of the game, Laurel has said that the postponement of the games due to the enhanced quarantine imposed in the Metro had a profound impact on all levels of the game, from the league itself down to the teams and to the game-day staff who  were displaced because of the said prohibitions to sporting activities.

"We have to reschedule. We have to cancel for two weeks because umuugong na yung situation," he added, noting that the Grand Prix was the most sought-after tournaments because of the increase of quality of the game, with reinforcements such as Alaina Bergsma and Lindsay Stalzer become the most popular overseas volleybells in the minds of the Filipino fans, after of course Brazil's Leila Barros.

"It wasn't that heavy, initially. Pero nung we have to cancel that first big event, that I think was the start of it," Laurel admitted, with the cancellation of their day with the fans was the start of something drastic that turned out to be a big deal, noting that it had a ripple effect for everyone. "The realization is starting to set in. This is going to be something that will need to be discussed."

Since then, the league has made effort not just to pitch in to flatten the curve with the players pitching in for the medical frontliners, something that he himself is proud of being a doctor himself. And it's not just those who are in the hospitals that they help, in which more importantly they are helping the game-day personnel that includes the referees and other staff whose income solely comes from the league.

Afterwards, Laurel have plotted their way to return to action, in which they will have to kick off the All-Filipino conference instead of resuming the Grand Prix.

"That was the first big decision we have to make. 'Pag bumalik  ng PSL, we will come back with the All-Filipino," he added, noting that it will be less complicated because of the travel restrictions with the rest of the world vary.

With that in mind, Laurel said the league have plotted every scenario for their comeback, and although they have set their return to October, it can be brought forward on an earlier date.

"Meron na kaming nakalatag na option, depende sa buwan na papayagan tayo," he  then said. "Pag sinuwerte, July-August may chance tayo."