BY ABBY TORALBA
THE Philippine National Volleyball Federation is standing firm on its stand to bar imports from playing in the third conference of the PVL, citing the importance of prioritizing the national team calendar.
PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said the exclusion of imports in the season-ending tilt remains.
The PVL received a letter from the PNVF recently after the league hosted the Invitational Conference “without due authorization” as the conference runs within the FIVB national team period.
According to Suzara, the country’s only professional volleyball league can push through with its third conference– the Reinforced Conference, as long as it won’t have any foreign guest players.
“If you get foreign players, you need to secure international transfer certificates (ITC). It’s still the national team calendar and we have a lot of tournaments to participate in. I don’t blame the PVL or the club because they have their own investment for their players,” Suzara said.
“If they’re not tapping foreign players, PNVF will not call their attention. I don’t like the word sanction. I didn’t sanction them. I just reminded them that it’s the national team calendar, they should not have a club league. Players should be focused on the national team only.”
Suzara insisted the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) national team period from May 15 to October 15 should be a priority.
