THE PVL yesterday stood firm—Fil-Am Alohi Robins-Hardy can be sanctioned, even anned— if and when she refuses to play for another team not named Farm Fresh that will pick her in the PVL rookie Draft on Sunday, June 8, at the Novotel Hotel Araneta City.
League president Ricky Palou said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum yesterday that Robins-Hardy may face a penalty if she sticks to her words of leaving the country and continuing her career overseas if she lands with a different squad.
“We will not allow that. She cannot choose the team that she wants to play for. She needs to go through the Draft. If another team decides to draft her and she says she refuses to play for that particular team, there will be sanctions,” Palou said at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. “We still need to discuss what sanctions we will impose.
“Once you go through the Draft and a team wants you, you have to play for that team or you won’t play at all,” added the amiable Sports Vision chief.
The 6-foot-1 setter did not show up in the two-day Draft Combine last week at the Paco Arena.
In a statement from Strong Group Athletics, Robins-Hardy reaffirmed her commitment to the Foxies, who own the third overall choice after the Capital1 Solar Spikers and Nxled Chameleons.
“When I arrived last year, I made a promise to Tito Frank (Lao) and Farm Fresh—that’s the only team I will play for,” Robins-Hardy said. “I signed a five-year contract with them because I believe in what they’re building.”
Robins-Hardy, 29, made a daring statement that she will walk away from Philippine volleyball if her desire to suit up for Farm Fresh falls through.
“If another team drafts me, I’ll return to the US and continue my career overseas,” she said.
“I’m not just here to play anywhere. I came back for Farm Fresh. That’s where my heart is.”
Robins-Hardy has been in the country since last year and served as an assistant coach for both the SGA-backed teams Farm Fresh and University of the Philippines in the UAAP.
PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo said that they will discuss Robins-Hardy’s case with the control committee.
“Right now, pag-uusapan namin ng control committee, we’re convening kasi we’re coming out with the final list for the Draft ceremony and siguro ita-tackle din namin today iyong on how to address this statement niya,” he said. “Kasi ang mangyayari kapag iba ang nag-pick sa kanya, three years hindi siya puwedeng i-trade.
“Kung ayaw niya mag-sign ng contract, three years siyang hindi makapaglalaro. Although nagbitaw siya ng salita, hindi siya maglalaro. So, hindi natin alam. Pero sana i-pick na kaagad siya ng Farm Fresh.”
