MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Superliga (PSL) president Ramon Suzara on Monday objected to allegations he was behind the failure of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) to secure international transfer certificates (ITCs) for its foreign players to see action in the ongoing Reinforced Conference.
Suzara, also the chairman of the Marketing and Development Committee of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and a member of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), has been under attack in the traditional and social media as fans and even PVL players accuse him of hindering the release of the ITCs for the PVL imports.
Suzara denied having a hand on the issue and emphasized that securing ITCs is the main responsibility the PVL.
He said PVL president Richard Palou should make himself aware of the FIVB’s Electronic International Transfer Procedure Manual—a 58-page document regarded as the bible of international transfer in volleyball, to ease his management and scheduling of the PVL tournaments.
Based on the FIVB transfer manual, the transfer of PVL imports should not be within the ITC period of Oct. 15, 2016 to May 15, 2017. The PVL Reinforced Conference started on April 30, 2017 and fell outside the ITC release period based on the same FIVB regulation.
The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas (LVPI), according to its president Joey Romasanta, had sent about 25 E-mailed requests to the FIVB to expedite the processing of the ITCs for the PVL imports, disproving claims unseen hands tried to impede the FIVB release of the ITCs.
The LVPI, however, was able to obtain ITCs for five Thai Players last May 3, according to FIVB records, again another proof the PVL had received support from the LVPI in securing the ITCs.
The FIVB also allowed the release of a Japanese player last May 12 to play in the PVL. All ITCs were coursed through the LVPI in representation of the PVL before the FIVB.
Other PVL teams, however, still do not have imports as the ongoing conference is about to reach its midway mark.
The LVPI had recently secured the recognition of the FIVB, which dropped the old Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) as country representative in the international federation.
The PVL, however, uses PVF officials in the officiating of its matches.
Suzara said he had informed Palou about the consequence of moving the PVL Reinforced Conference from season-ending (like the what is practiced by the PSL for its Grand Prix) to season-opening as it would encounter problems with ITCs. No changes have been made in the PVL calendar, though.
The PSL, he added, religiously follows the AVC and FIVB rules, especially its calendar, and makes sure that the ITCs of its foreign guest players have been secured even before they plane in to the country.
“Either Palou was unaware of that calendar, which is well known among professionals and serious volleyball officials or just chose to ignore it hoping that the LVPI (Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc.) or I would pressure the FIVB to exempt the PVL from the FIVB's sacred rules,” said Suzara.
He said Palou, being the secretary-general of the LVPI, should also be aware of the FIVB rules.
“Palou may have given inaccurate information to the PVL players, volleyball fans, PVL team owners, its TV partner and other media into laying the blame on me, or the PSL, or the LVPI as the culprits and villains who caused this mess Palou inflicted on himself and the PVL,” Suzara said.
Suzara suggested that Palou and the PVL should also go over the checklist of compliance required by the government, including the work permits of their imports and other government clearances.
“I am afraid that if PVL fails to obtain these permits on time and shoot themselves on the foot again, PSL or the LVPI and maye I would be blamed again,” he said.
“I hope, for the sake of the PVL team owners, TV partners, sponsors, fans and players including those who went to social media without checking their facts, this problem which PVL itself created is resolved soonest,” Suzara added.
Suzara also demanded public apology from PVL players like Dzi Gervacio, Charo Soriano, Amanda Villanueva and Bea Tan for using the social media to accuse him of causing the delay in the release of the PVL imports' ITCs.
“I demand an apology from players who jumped into the fray and accused of me of bullying them without checking basic facts,” said Suzara, who is leading the formation of the team headed for the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship in Kazakhstan next week.
“I also request that the PSL be left alone to continue its difficult and sincere task of strengthening Philippine volleyball as we gear up for the Asian Club Championships in few weeks and the Southeast Asian Games in few months.”
“Our country does not need these distractions which are intended to cover up for the negligence and incompetence of supposed volleyball officials,” Suzara said.