Alas Pilipinas’ Eya Laure celebrates after a point against Australia in the AVC Challenge Cup 2024. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — PVL president Ricky Palou bared that they are still in talks with Chery Tiggo to allow stars Eya Laure and Jennifer Nierva to play for Alas Pilipinas.
Palou stressed that the two national team players are obliged to fulfill their national team duties until August 11 amid the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference starting next week.
Laure and Nierva, who were the key members of Alas’ bronze medal run in the AVC Challenge Cup, missed Alas’ tough quarterfinal defeat to Vietnam in the FIVB Women’s Volleyball Challenger Cup last week after failing to get a clearance from their mother club to play for the national team.
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Chery Tiggo team manager Aaron Velez said the impasse remains status quo for now and its development depends on the negotiation between the league, federation and the Crossovers.
“We’re still talking to the management of Chery Tiggo. We’re hoping that they will allow the two to remain with the national team. Sayang din naman eh. We’re still communicating with them, nothing definite yet,” said Palou after a successful PVL Rookie Draft on Monday evening at Novotel.
Palou, who also serves as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) vice president, admitted that Chery Tiggo didn’t agree with the setup of their Alas players missing the midseason conference in lieu of the national team period.
“Mandated si Chery Tiggo to lend their two players to the national team. We’re still talking. Right now, they want to give the players but we’re still talking to explain to them what are the agreements we came up with the PNVF,” said the PVL chief. “In fact, all the other teams said yes. Si Chery Tiggo lang yung naiiba, I don’t think they really understood everything so we’re trying to explain to them what happened.”
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Alas will be in Japan for a two-week training camp before playing two legs in the SEA V League in August.
The national team has several pro players including Creamline’s Jia De Guzman and Jema Galanza, Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag, Cignal’s Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Vanie Gandler, PLDT’s Dell Palomata, Fifi Sharma and Faith Nisperos of Akari as well as newly-drafted rookies Thea Gagate of ZUS Coffee and Julia Coronel of Galeries Tower.
As per an agreement between the PVL and the PNVF, a stiff consequence awaits should a PVL team refuse to lend its player to the national team.
“Now, if the team chooses not to allow their players to play, on our part, we have an agreement with the PNVF that they will not also be allowed to play in the Reinforced Conference,” Palou said.