Newly installed volleyball chief Joey Romasanta said that disgruntled officials of the Philippine Volleyball Federation should air their grievances to the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB.
“If there’s injustice done to them, they can always go to the IF (international federation),” said Romasanta, president of the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, after PVF president Edgardo “Boy” Cantada, crashed the general assembly of the Philippine Olympic Committee Wednesday in a desperate bid to seek audience with the local Olympic body.
The LVP recently got the blessings of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and provisional recognition from the FIVB, given by Ary Garcia on March 24.
Romasanta added the LVP is in the process of settling the financial obligation of the PVF, worth $80,000, to the FIVB.
Cantada, who came to the POC meeting with PVF secretary general Otie Camangian at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, brought along several players and stubbornly asked POC officials to recognize the team formed by the PVF.
“Let’s not hide behind the athletes. They should not be in this situation,” said Romasanta, also the first vice president of the POC.
“These things have to stop. If they are responsible people and they want what’s best for volleyball, they should prioritize the things that needed to be fixed,” added Romasanta.
With the LVP at the helm, the Philippines will host the Asian Under-23 Women’s Volleyball Championships on May 1 to 9 and bring a team to the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June for the first time since the 2005 Manila Games.
The PVF lost recognition from the POC after submitting two articles of incorporation from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sources said the PVF plans to take legal action to reclaim its status.
“It’s their right, nobody can stop them. We’ll just have to meet them in the proper forum,” said POC legal adviser and LVP director Ramon Malinao.