National spikers want end to leadership crisis

National players Rachel Ann Daquis and Jessie Lopez are both open to playing in the coming Southeast Asian Games and hoping that their team is spared from the leadership crisis hounding the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

“We’re definitely affected by the current leadership problem,” said a teary-eyed Daquis during yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum held at Shakey’s Malate. “We only want to play and represent the country.”

The entire national men’s and women’s squads showed up in full force during the weekly forum backed by Accel and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. as they appeal for volleyball officials to get their act together.

They intend to compete in the SEA Games in Singapore next year, the first time Philippine volleyball will see action in the biennial meet since Manila 2005.

Also gracing the occasion were players Gretchen Ho, Michelle Datuin, men’s coach Ogie Mamon, women’s assistant coach Ariel dela Cruz and embattled PVF secretary general Otie Camangian.

“This controversy suddenly came up immediately after the team got united. It doesn’t make sense to me,” said Ho.

Amid the leadership crunch, the Philippine Olympic Committee has yet to recognize any of the conflicting parties in the PVF, which has two sets of officers with the same president in Karl Geoffrey Chan.