If they weren’t official enough for you, LVPI’s recognition from the Fèdèration Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) should put all doubts to rest.
In a letter dated May 18, 2015 from the FIVB President Dr. Ary S. Graca, the FIVB stated that it “recognizes the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) as the exclusive authority, under the leadership of its President, Mr. Josè Romasanta, and its Secretary General, Mr. Ricky Palou, to govern Volleyball and Beach Volleyball in the Philippines.”
The letter states that the LVPI’s recognition came after a meeting of the FIVB’s Board of Administration last May 12.
The LVPI has come a long way to get to this point of recognition. After nearly a decade of absence in multiple international volleyball competitions among other things, the Philippine Olympic Committee deemed the country’s previous volleyball authority Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) inept and in need of replacement last year. The LVPI was then formed to revitalize Philippine Volleyball’s presence locally and internationally.
Persisting through multiple efforts from the now-defunct PVF to halt its progress, the LVPI managed multiple feats such as successfully hosting the Asian Volleyball Championships U23 tournament last May and sending National Teams to the AVC Men’s U23 tournament in Myanmar, to the AVC Women’s Seniors tournament in China, to the Southeast Asian Games (which the Philippines last participated in ten years ago) in Singapore, and to the VTV tournament in Vietnam.
LVPI’s recognition is considered as the first of many steps on the Philippines’ road back to international competency.
In an interview after the Philippines win against Kazakhstan in the AVC U23 tournament, Women’s National Team head coach, Roger Gorayeb expressed his delight with what the LVPI was able to accomplish in a short span of time. “Malaking bagay na nakapaghost tayo ng ganito (AVC U23). Maraming sumubok tigilan ‘to, pero malaking pasalamat sa mga nag-organize na naituloy ito. Malayo pa, siguro mga eight to ten years pa bago maging malakas tayo sa mga international competition. Pero maganda na nasimulan na natin ‘yung pagsali. Sana mag tuloy-tuloy lang.”
