Formation of new volley body sought

MANILA, Philippines - It’s now up to the major stakeholders to gather and organize themselves in putting up a new volleyball federation in the country.

“It will now be up to the interest groups to gather, bond and do the right thing,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) vice president Jose Romasanta yesterday.

“We’re leaving it now to the stakeholders,” he added.

Due to a leadership dispute within the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) allowed the POC to settle the issue.

The FIVB asked the POC to step in and pave the way for the creation of a new organization acceptable to everybody.

Romasanta was designated by POC president Jose Cojuangco to do the job and make sure the country is represented well in the SEA Games in Singapore in June.

In the process, Romasanta formed a five-man committee, including POC second vice president Jeff Tamayo, POC legal counsel Ramon Malinao, Ateneo’s Ricky Palou and consultant Benjamin Espiritu.

They put up the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) and already is in the process of gathering all the stakeholders leading up to an election.

The LVPI was granted provisional recognition by the FIVB.

“Our mandate was to organize and invite everybody and then hold elections. That being the case, our job is done. It’s now up to the stakeholders,” said Romasanta.

“Again, the mandate was to organize and lay the groundwork for a new organization to be formed and be recognized by the FIVB,” he added.

Among the major stakeholders are school-based leagues UAAP and NCAA and commercial leagues Shakey’s V-League and Philippine Super Liga.

Romasanta said there are more stakeholders coming in and should all be part of the new organization.

“We have to suggest an entirely new federation is formed because the FIVB wants the name Larong Volleyball (LVPI) changed to something in English,” he said.

The POC vice president also denied reports that he was seeking the presidency of volleyball in the country.

“We in the POC have 53 other sports to attend to and just yesterday I met with several NSAs (national sports associations) working on their constitution,” he said.

“I hope this puts an end to speculations that I want to be president of volleyball. I have other duties and I have my own NSA (karatedo),” Romasanta added.

He called on the stakeholders to work double time and make sure they form a competitive team to the SEA Games in Singapore.

The Philippines, Romasanta said, has players with the talent and putting up a team shouldn’t be a problem.

“But the question is can it play as a team? Can they gel together as a team? I now leave it to the volleyball people. It’s up to our SEA Games management committee to decide if they deserve to go,” he said.