LVPI seeks world body’s recognition

The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) made a plea to the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) to once and for all give it full recognition as the governing body of the sport in the country, and expel splinter group Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF)—with finality.

The FIVB is set to hold its general assembly in January and the LVPI asked the body to review the issues it has threshed out in an eight-page letter sent on Tuesday to the international volleyball community by LVPI president Joey Romasanta.

Romasanta pleaded with FIVB to “compare it with LVPI’s achievements in uplifting Philippine volleyball and its contribution to the promotion of the sport here and abroad.”

He added that the LVPI, for the past five years, has “diligently complied with all the conditions and requirements and is the sole association in volleyball recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee.”

The conditions met included payment of dues amounting to $80,000 incurred by LVPI predecessor PVF. It has also staged several international competitions here in the country as well as sent teams in FIVB-sanctioned meets abroad.

PVF official Edgardo Cantada has not returned calls from the Inquirer, which was trying to get his group’s side, since Wednesday.

At the moment, the FIVB has “provisional recognition” of the LVPI pending approval of two-thirds of its congress. The umbrella body also suspended PVF and withheld all its rights as a member.

After infighting rocked PVF and caused the country to stop participation in international meets for at least six years, volleyball stockholders banded together to form the LVPI, which has been running the sport since 2015.