MANILA, Philippines – The FIVB or the International Volleyball Federation has given its blessings to the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, which practically replaces the Philippine Volleyball Federation as the duly recognized volleyball group in the country.
"I acknowledge receipt and thank you very much for your letter dated January 20 containing information concerning a proposal for a replacement federation for the Philippine Volleyball Federation," said FIVB president Ary S. Graca in a one-page letter straight from Lausanne, Switzerland Wednesday.
"I hereby grant provisional recognition of LVPI as the new National Volleyball Federation of the Philippines under the umbrella of the Philippine Olympic Committee," he added.
In the same letter, Graca requires the POC and LVP to elect additional board members not later than Feb. 15.
POC vice president Joey Romasanta, who will be the interim president of LVP, said they already have slots for the V-League, Super Liga, UAAP and NCAA.
"We're just putting up the house but we will follow whatever is required," said Romasanta, who also heads the karatedo association.
It also practically killed the PVF, which is being headed by the group headed by Karl Chan and Boy Cantada.
"With this recognition, I think we should put the issue to rest," said Romasanta, who also owns the support of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
"There should be no more doubt and we should start working, focus on the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games and the Asian Women's U23 Volleyball Championship in May. We should all move forward and start working," he added.
The LVP has also officially abolished the national men's and women's teams formed by the PVF and replaced it with a new team mentored by Roger Gorayeb and Sammy Acaylar.