Strong Group Athletics owner Frank Lao was elected president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation on Monday, formally taking over from Tony Boy Liao after the federation held a new leadership election.
Lao had previously been elected PNVF president in June, but the Philippine Olympic Committee later declared the election invalid after determining that it was conducted while the federation was under suspension and without proper POC representation.
The leadership change comes as the PNVF embarks on a long road toward having its suspension by the International Volleyball Federation lifted, after the world governing body sanctioned the federation in May over governance issues under Liao’s administration.
Atty. Donn Kapunan will serve as vice president, with Rommel Ng taking on the role of treasurer, while Wharton Chan will serve as auditor and represent the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
The newly elected Board of Trustees will be composed of Sienna Olaso, Francis Chad Salimbangon, Carmela Gamboa, Otie Camangian, Mohamad Bernan Jr., and Atty. Jonas Cabochan.
Meanwhile, Ramon “Tats” Suzara, FIVB vice president and AVC president, will return to the federation as a member of the board, while Don Caringal will serve as secretary-general.
“This is a ‘committed team’ and I believe they could sustain the progress of volleyball that started when the PNVF was established in 2021,” said POC president Bambol Tolentino
This marks Suzara and Caringal’s return to the PNVF after previously serving as president and secretary-general, respectively, before Liao assumed the presidency.
The officials were elected during the polls held at the Solaire Theater Southlinks Boardroom 2M.
Three other individuals will be named to the 13-member board, including a Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) appointee and one male and one female representative from the athletes’ commission.
With the elections, the POC has now relinquished its role as caretaker of the PNVF, a mandate it assumed following the federation’s suspension by the FIVB. The move restores the PNVF’s governance under a duly elected board and leadership.
FIVB Ad Hoc Committee chair Hila Asanuma of Palau and FIVB external legal consultant Atty. Alexa Dabao were on hand to witness and certify the election proceedings.
