Premier Volleyball League has assured that it has no argument with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
Issues recently emerged regarding the tryouts for the women’s national volleyball team after only six players from the league’s member teams attended the exercise last Wednesday in Subic.
“We are doing okay. We are trying to put everything in place. There are great plans for the federation and volleyball national team. We are preparing the women for the AVC Women’s Seniors Championship and, of course, for the Southeast Asian Games,” PVL president and PNVF board member Ricky Palou told Radyo5’s Power & Play.
“We are okay, but there are some issues we have to clear up. But generally, we are doing fine.”
The pros who attended the tryouts were Chery Tiggo’s Jaja Santiago; F2 Logistics’ Aby Marano and Majoy Baron; Sta. Lucia’s Dell Palomata; Petro Gazz’s Ria Meneses; and free agent Iris Tolenada. Palomata’s teammate MJ Phillips had to pull out at the last minute after coming into close contact with a COVID-19 positive staff member of the Lady Realtors.
Other invitees were excused, like F2 Logistics’ Kalei Mau and Cignal’s Alohi Robins-Hardy (travel restrictions); PLDT’s Rhea Dimaculangan (death in the family); and Chery Tiggo’s Dindin Santiago-Manabat (doctor’s appointment).
The rest cited health concerns.
For Palou, the PNVF’s rush to form the national team despite the 31st Southeast Asian Games being six months away is understandable.
“We also found out that the other Southeast Asian countries have already started training for the SEA Games like Thailand and Vietnam. They want to have a huge headstart.”
For its part, the PVL is opening its doors to the coaches of the national team headed by Odjie Mamon to enter their bubble when the Open Conference kicks off either on the last week of June or the first week of July, so that they can still train the pool in the morning.
Moreover, just like during the 2019 Spikers’ Turf season, the national team pool can figure into games with the member teams.
“The club teams are fully supporting the plans of the federation for the national team. What we have proposed to the federation is that while the PVL is going on, the national team coaches will also be present so that they will have to train and practice the members of the pool. What we are saying is, while the PVL is ongoing, they can continue practicing daily and even have practice games against the club teams,” Palou bared.
“I think the president [Tats Suzara] has agreed to it in principle so that the pool can continue training. But it will be just practice games since if we include them in the tournament, it might extend the tournament longer. Being able to practice with the club teams will be really good. That’s how we prepared the men’s team in the Spikers’ Turf tournament.”
With this, Palou stressed that the PVL will continue to support the newly-formed federation.
After all, it’s unity and change that is needed by the sport.
“I think at the end of the day, the federation will work together for the betterment of volleyball. There are some kinks but they will be easy to resolve. We are very optimistic with the federation and its leadership.”
