THE long-overdue election of officers of the new volleyball association will be held as scheduled on Jan. 25.
This was stressed by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino as he urged all volleyball stakeholders to “come together and unite for the good of volleyball.”
Tolentino lamented the decision of the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) to back out of the scheduled election of officers as ordered by the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation).
Tolentino called the decision to pull out of the scheduled election of officers at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Parañaque “a missed opportunity for the PVF.”
“We respect their decision. However, we have to move on for the good of volleyball. We will proceed with the election,” Tolentino said in a statement.
“We will make a report to the FIVB and we’re going to invite them as observer through video link,” added Tolentino.
“The true winner here is Philippine volleyball.”
Tolentino said the new national volleyball association — which has yet to assume an official name — will be composed of 13 positions from th chairman, president down to the members of the board.
However, PVF president Edgardo “Boy” Cantada rejected the election.
In an open letter to Tolentino and posted on his Facebook page, Cantada said the “conditions and parameters for the immediate resolution to the problem are unacceptable
Last Saturday, Tolentino herded major volleyball stakeholders and laid down the groundwork for the creation of a new volleyball federation that would secure the recognition of the FIVB.
The FIVB earlier requested the POC to supervise an election where results can be presented to the World Congress on Feb. 5-7.
Present during Saturday’s meeting were Alliances of Philippine Volleyball Inc.’s Ramon “Tats” Suzara, Larong Volleyballl sa Pilipinas Inc. secretary general Ariel Paredes, PVF secretary general Rustico “Otie” Camangian, and Ricky Palou and Tony Boy Liao of Sports Vision.
With Tolentino were POC secretary General Atty. Ed Gastanes, Atty. Billy Sumagui and Atty. Wharton Chan.
