POC decides on volley, tennis NSAs

POC president Bambol Tolentino. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will render a decision on national sports associations (NSAs) with chronic leadership issues, with president Bambol Tolentino set to either reaffirm or withdraw recognition of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) and Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI).

“No need to probe,” Tolentino, the Cavite representative, told the Inquirer. “It should be action from the POC.”

Tolentino said what prompted the POC to prepare a course of action were letters from the international federations of tennis and volleyball. He added that the International Olympic Committee is also monitoring the developments.

Tolentino said the executive board will announce its decision after its scheduled meeting later this month.

Philta and LVPI were allowed to cast votes during the last POC elections where Tolentino, the cycling boss, emerged the runaway winner over challenger Clint Aranas of archery.

However, the POC refused to allow Philta president Antonio Cablitas from the polls and the association was represented instead by vice president Martin Misa.

Philta has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for two years late last year after it refused to make constitutional changes that would involve participation of the sport’s stakeholders.

The ITF directed the Philta to allow amendments in its membership requirements and hold a new election that would include other groups, including breakaway body, Unified Tennis Philippines.

LVPI is still on provisional membership from the FIVB (international volleyball federation). That despite the fact that it has been running the sport for the past five years.

It has hosted international meets, including the World Women’s Club Championships on 2016. LVPI has also sent teams to tournaments like the Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games and Asian Men’s and Women’s Club championships.

Through its president Joey Romasanta and vice president Peter Cayco, the LVPI has also paid some $80,000 past dues to the FIVB, which were incurred by its predecessors like the Philippine Volleyball Federation. INQ