PNVF now open to talks over player welfare, unpaid dues

Alas Pilipinas women during their game against Vietnam in the SEA Games 2025 volleyball tournament in Thailand. –POC MEDIA POOL

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is seeking a meeting with the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team to address concerns aired recently by members of the national squad.

PNVF president Tonyboy Liao and Executive Director Iby Bautista acknowledged delays in salaries, saying the federation is still processing financial reports from the previous administration.

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They assured that all unpaid dues—including those involving coach Jorge de Brito—will be settled, and that a meeting with the Alas players will be arranged.

“When we basically took over, there was a lot of mess, especially in the financials,” Bautista said. “For example, our 2023 financial statement is still incomplete. There are many missing receipts and unaccounted items. So what more for 2024 and 2025? That’s what we’re working on now. It will take time to complete everything and gather all the supporting documents.”

“We’ve seen many discrepancies. There were funds that came in supposedly for specific programs, but they were used for something else.” Bautista added that the federation wants to hear directly from the players.

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“We will ask them to sit down with us so they can air their grievances,” he said. “But honestly, one reason they haven’t been paid is delayed liquidation—some of which has been pending for six months. Everything has been delayed. Slowly, we’ve managed to release one month’s pay for beach volleyball. For indoor volleyball, we are working on it. Rest assured, we are committed to solving this problem.”

Jia De Guzman and Fifi Sharma recently took to social media to raise concerns about the welfare of Alas players. The Philippine Daily Inquirer also reported that former national coach and current Capital1 mentor Jorge de Brito is seeking legal remedies over unpaid bonuses and salaries from the federation.

Young Alas standouts Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Shaina Nitura, and Jennifer Nierva also reposted an Instagram post from Go Hard Girls—a platform for women’s empowerment in sports—featuring an Alas stakeholder calling for better financial support and a “true off-season” in the PVL.

Liao said the PNVF remains open to dialogue with the players, who have consistently placed the Philippines on the podium in the AVC Women’s Cup and SEA V.League but fell short of ending a 20-year medal drought in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games last December.

PVL chairman Tony Boy Liao is the new PNVF president. –PVL PHOTO

“We’re open anytime if they want to sit down,” said Liao, who assumed the presidency last November after winning the elections.

“If Jia, as captain, wants to lead the team in talking to us, that’s fine. Let’s sit down,” he added. “As for this ‘Alas stakeholder,’ I’m asking—who is that? We don’t have an ‘Alas stakeholder.’ We have stakeholders who are members. If you say ‘Alas stakeholder,’ that refers to the players. Definitely.”

Liao reiterated that the federation plans to field the SEA Games core for the AVC Women’s Cup in Candon this June.

“The pool that played in the SEA Games will be the same group. But if they no longer want to join, we cannot force them,” he said.

“Our role is to invite them and coordinate with their clubs. We will inform the clubs of the players we want for the national team and the schedule. It will be up to the clubs if they release them.”

Bautista emphasized that the federation’s priority is ensuring players receive what is due to them.

“This new leadership of the PNVF is committed to transparency—for you, for all stakeholders, for everyone,” he said. “We encourage all members to work together.”

“Let’s be united. This PNVF is working for the Filipino people. We value our fans above all else. Let’s come together and represent the country well in future tournaments so we can achieve better results.”