LARONG Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. or Philippine Volleyball Federation?
Before stakeholders decide which volleyball body will be recognized as the country’s official national sports association, the LVPI is standing its ground that it is the duly-recognized NSA.
It is seeking clarifications from the FIVB, according to a highly-reliable Malaya-Business Insight source close to the LVPI.
“The LVPI is seeking clarification from the FIVB because it has a letter from FIVB welcoming LVPI to the FIVB after it has satisfactorily complied with the conditions set by the FIVB,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“It includes the payment of the US$100,000 owed to them by PVF.”
On the persistent request of the FIVB, the Philippine Olympic Committee will supervise an election set either in the third or fourth week this month.
POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the local Olympic body will supervise the polls.
“There was already a request from the FIVB some time ago to hold a volleyball election before the FIVB’s general assembly this February,” Tolentino said.
“Without a legitimate NSA, we cannot send national teams to FIVB-sanctioned tournaments abroad,” he added.
The LVPI of Joey Romasanta was recognized by the FIVB and has been forming the national volleyball teams.
The other group, the PVF, is led by Edgardo “Boy” Cantada and has allegedly been stripped of its FIVB membership.
Curiously, neither the LVPI nor the PVF is recognized by the FIVB.
The Marck Espejo-led Philippine men’s volleyball team bagged a historic silver medal behind Indonesia in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in Manila in 2019.
It marked the first podium finish for Pinoy spikers in 42 years.
The women’s squad, bannered by stars Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Majoy Baron and skipper Aby Maraño, among others, wound up last in the four-team field and failed to end a 14-year medal drought.
