The Philippine National Volleyball Federation is still awaiting the completion of requirements from Petro Gazz standouts Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips, just a week before Alas Pilipinas begins its training for the upcoming national team window.
PNVF president Tats Suzara shared that the federation is hoping to receive the necessary paperwork from the two Filipino-American players soon, allowing them to officially join the national team.
The team is set to compete in the AVC Nations Cup (formerly known as the Challenge Cup), Southeast Asian V.League, and the Southeast Asian Games.
“The sooner, the better, so they can be part of the national team. Alas will start training next week, and the others can join after May,” Suzara told the press following the announcement of the PNVF-MVP Group partnership for the Philippines’ hosting of the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship on Monday.
Van Sickle and Phillips, who are part of the 33-player wishlist for Alas Pilipinas, have expressed their desire to join the national team but are still under USA Volleyball. This requires a formal transfer of federation before they can officially represent the Philippines.
However, with their paperwork still pending, their participation in the national team remains uncertain.
(C) PVL Images
“I saw the news that Brooke and MJ are willing to join the national team. But just to make it clear, Hollie (Reyes), our team manager, has been following up with their management about the requirements for the federation change,” said Suzara.
“Our role is to process this with the FIVB. But until they submit the complete requirements, it’s easy to say ‘I want to join the national team,’ but if you don’t submit the requirements… Until they submit these documents, we will request USA Volleyball or the Canadian Volleyball Federation to change their federation, and then the FIVB will approve this at any time through the executive committee,” he added.
Suzara, who also serves as the executive vice president of the FIVB, revealed that the global governing body approved nearly 20 federation change requests during its meeting last month — a process that Van Sickle and Phillips could have been a part of had their paperwork been completed in time.
“In fact, during last month’s executive board meeting of the FIVB, where I’m also the executive vice president, we approved about 20 federation changes for different countries. Sayang ‘yun eh, hindi tayo umabot. But we have been telling them to submit the requirements,” he said.
With Alas Pilipinas’ buildup now underway, Suzara is hopeful that the two players will submit their requirements soon, allowing them to join the national team’s preparations.
“I think I would like to ask the management of Petro Gazz to support their requirements because it’s very important. The legal department will check if they are truly eligible for a federation change,” Suzara said.
“I’m hoping that these requirements will be met, and they can be part of the national team.”
#WATCH: PNVF President Tats Suzara shares updates on Brooke Van Sickle’s and MJ Phillips’ federation transfers, plus updates on the Philippines’ hosting of the #MWCH2025!
@jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times #Sambansa pic.twitter.com/Jh64oMQs7X
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 28, 2025
