Philippine volleyball body falls out of everyone’s good graces

Volleyball stock photo.

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MANILA, Philippines — It’s the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) against the world.

It came after the FIVB, the world governing body of the sport, suspended the PNVF under Tony Boy Liao for alleged violations of the former's Code of Ethics, the withdrawal of financial support from the Philippine Sports Commission and an impending Philippine Olympic Committee suspension.

In between, the Asian Volleyball Confederation reaffirmed its full support of its president Ramon Suzara following a communication it received from the PNVF.

Coincidentally, Suzara is a former PNVF chief and was appointed by FIVB chief Fabio Azevedo as the group’s executive vice president.

And all these happened in just over a day.

Liao has yet to make a response from this series of unfortunate events.

But he did make one about the PSC’s decision to withdraw financial backing after an alleged breach of contract.

“While the PNVF fully understands and respects the value of the visibility obligations cited in your letter, our records show that the PNVF does not currently possess a signed copy of the said MOA,” said Liao in a two-page letter to PSC lawyer Diomarie Pedrozo Friday.

“To date, our organization has only been able to sign off on an affidavit of undertaking specifically related to financial assistance,” he said.

As for the FIVB suspension, it appointed an ad hoc committee consisting of FIVB executive committee member Hila Asanuma, FIVB Asia regional officer and empowerment manager Matthieu Meriaux, FIVB head of legal and general counsel Stephen Bock, FIVB head of empowerment and national federation relations Hitesh Malhorta and FIVB legal contractor in the Philippines Alexa Dabao.

As for the PNVF’s impending POC suspension, POC president Abraham Tolentino “The POC will abide by the decision of the IF (FIVB).”

There is no report on what will happen to the Alas Pilipinas women’s team seeing action in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup set June 6 to 14 in Candon, Ilocos Sur.