Ten teams will see action and they were given the green light to tap three reinforcements so long as they are enrolled students of any school in the country.

A team is limited to two guest players if it doesn’t meet the first requirement or it will use a foreign import.

The option is seen as a massive boost for the squads which can’t afford to tap foreign-bred guest players, including Thai imports.

“It’s a way of levelling the field. We initially gave that option to our two visiting provincial teams, but later on decided that all teams can avail of the option,” Ricky Palou, the V-League tournament director, said during the weekly PSA Forum Tuesday at Shakey’s UN Ave.

So far, Cebu-based Southwestern University and National University are the only teams which will utilize the three-guest player option as other teams are still finalizing their rosters.

“The option will also give good players the chance to play even if her school is not playing in the league. If you can see, we started with one, then two and now we are allowing three guest players. It's a way of giving graduate students a chance to continue their passion,” said Moying Martelino, chairman of Sports Vision, the organizer of the tournament.

University of St. La Salle of Bacolod is the other returning Visayan team in the season-opening conference that will miss powerhouse squads De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas, the defending champion. Both citing academics and injuries to players as reasons, UST, will be out for the second straight conference while La Salle, the fifth straight.

Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin