LVP still open for more national team aspirants

The newly recognized Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas remains open to players wanting to join the national team, including those still affiliated with the Philippine Volleyball Federation.

“We are standing by our belief that every athlete wants to represent the country, so we are still open (to those who want to join us),” said LVP interim president Joey Romasanta a day after the new volleyball body was officially recognized by the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) Tuesday.

Romasanta, who earlier set a Jan. 27 deadline for the PVF players to join the national pool, said the LVP will meet the coaching staff on Monday to discuss the composition of the women’s team.

Romasanta, also the Philippine Olympic Committee vice president, said they have enough athletes with 30 players already in the women’s team pool.

“We will only need 12 players, after all,” he said.

The Philippines is preparing for the Asian women’s under-23 championships in April here and the Southeast Asian Games in June in Singapore.

The FIVB through president Ary Graca has granted LVI the power to govern volleyball in the country. But it has to comply with a provision which includes election of a nine-man board of directors by Feb. 15.