PVF AND THE 37TH FIVB WORLD CONGRESS

                                                           courtesy of fivb.org

Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) received its invitation to attend the 37th FIVB World Congress last November 27, 2020. The invitation clearly establishes the fact that FIVB now recognizes PVF a member of FIVB. Only FIVB members are allowed, after all, to attend the FIVB World Congress.

But as soon as the FIVB invitation was made public by PVF, rumors started to circulate. Rumors have it that the big comeback of PVF in FIVB will be derailed by certain FIVB officials belonging to the FIVB mafia.

One thing that the FIVB mafia seem to forget as it maps out a plan to overthrow PVF is the fact that the decision to retain PVF was made by the FIVB General Assembly (FIVB GA). The FIVB GA will certainly not allow its decision to be disrespected and thrown out the window as it will set a dangerous precedent.. The decision of the FIVB GA must be honored and protected at all cost.

The FIVB mafia will certainly try to stop PVF from claiming its rightful place. But it will fail miserably. There are a lot of FIVB members, after all, who are highly principled to make sure that truth and justice will prevail this time for PVF.

PEARL MANAGUELOD AND HER BRAVE POC JOURNEY

 

I have learned through the years that whoever sits as Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president, Philippine sports will still end up in its sordid and deplorable state. Past POC presidents have always been associated with corruption cases. The same goes true with other POC elected officials. Thus, the coming election does not give me hope for any change to occur in POC.

But this year's POC election introduces a newcomer who dares to prove me wrong. Pearl Managuelod, the muay thai federation secretary-general, is running for the first time for an elected POC position. She is running for Board Director in the November 27 POC election.

In an exclusive interview, Managuelod answers the questions that many are afraid to ask candidates who seek POC elected posts.

1. Why did you decide to run for Board Director in the coming POC election?

Cong. Tolentino asked me to run under his ticket as a Board Director. When I asked him why me instead of the other seemingly more qualified NSA leaders, he said that he saw the success of our NSA under my leadership. Given my academic background, I believe I can contribute significantly to the development of sports in the country. 

2. What changes do you plan to introduce to POC once elected?

I have an athlete-centered philosophy so most of the programs and policies I want to introduce are geared for our athletes' holistic development, high performance training, safeguarding scholarship funds, education and career transition. It is all about empowerment and capacity-building.

3. Why did you decide to run under Tolentino's ticket?

He has a reliable team. They can play the game. They walk the talk. They seek to unify rather than focus on divisiveness. They share my athlete-centered philosophy.

4. Tolentuno voted not to file charges against PHISGOC. Do you agree with his vote?

I am for accountability and transparency. I did my own research and even went to the Department of Budget Management (DBM) to clarify things. I know that Cong. Bambol Tolentino had his reasons for his vote.

5. Several NSA's like PVF, PBC, PDBF and TATAP were disenfranchised illegally by Peping Cokuangco and remain disenfranchised during Tolentino's term. What do you propose to do with these disenfranchised NSA's?

POC should activate the Arbitration Committee where NSA's will be given the opportunity to air their valid complaints.

6. How will you convince the private sector to support Philippine sports?

Sports must be used as a tool for nation-building. Sports right now is being used for personal and political gain which shouldn't be the case. Once the private sector sees that sports is being used the right way, sponsorship will come.

7. Is sports still relevant at this time of the pandemic?

Sports will always be relevant. There are various levels of engagement in sports. We tend to forget the recreational part of sports. Physical activity is a fundamental right and must be promoted at all levels.

8. What do you ultimately want to happen in Philippine sports?

I would like to take little steps to correct past mistakes made in Philippine sports. I want to see more women in management and leadership roles. I want the youth to be empowered and active in sports. I want Philippine sports to become a source of unity and empowerment.

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PVF REACHES OUT TO UP PRESIDENT DANNY CONCEPCION

 

In a bid to stop Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) from participating in the November 27, 2020 POC election, PVF President Edgardo J. Cantada wrote to UP President Atty. Danilo Concepcion. Atty. Concepcion is a member of the powerful three-man POC Election Committee for the coming election. The PVF president cites three basic reasons why LVPI must not be allowed to cast its vote during the POC election. First, LVPI is not affiliated to FIVB and AVC. Second, PVF was never expelled from POC by the POC General Assembly. Third, the "expulsion" of PVF is still under litigation at a local court. The letter of PVF contains documents that prove the reasons cited.

Dear Atty. Concepcion,

Greetings from Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF). We hope you and your family are well upon receiving this letter.

We, at PVF, humbly request the POC Election Committee to disqualify Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) from participating in the coming POC election. We wish to prevent LVPI from casting its vote for the following reasons:

1. LVPI is not affiliated to its International Federation (IF). It was disaffiliated by the FIVB General Assembly from FIVB during the 36th FIVB World Congress in Cancun, Mexico. (See attachment). It is PVF that remains a member of FIVB from the Philippines.(See screenshot of the FIVB website). Affiliation to a corresponding IF is a requirement for POC membership 

2. PVF was never expelled by the POC General Assembly. Thus, PVF remains a valid member of POC. The idea that PVF "disappeared into thin air" is a lie that POC peddles to justify the membership of LVPI in POC. Please be informed that the POC 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents of POC are top officials of LVPI. Two other POC officials are also LVPI officials. POC is likewise a member of LVPI, which is a complete travesty. (See Word attachment).

3. The legality of PVF's expulsion from POC is still under litigation at the Pasig RTC.

We hope that the POC Election Committee, under your initiative, will ensure the integrity and credibility of the coming POC election. We hope that you will  champion truth and justice to effectively serve the best interest of the sports community and nation in general.

Thank you.

Yours truly,

Edgardo J. Cantada 

PVF President

Will these suffice for the UP president to decide in favor of PVF? PVF and a lot of volleyball fans hope so.

ANG ROOKIE SENSATION NG UPMVT NA SI LOUIS GAMBAN SA ISANG ONE-ON-ONE

"Masipag na atleta. Very coachable. Binigyan ko siya ng ibang role at position ilang buwan bago magsimula ang UAAP. Tinanggap niya ito ng buong puso at nag-improve siya nang todo. Alam niya i-motivate ang sarili at kanyang teammates at binibigay niya ang best niya sa bawat laro at practice."  Ito ang paglalarawanni UP Men's Volleyball Team Head Coach Raid Ricafort kay rookie sensation Louis Gamban. Sa unang laro pa lang ni Gamban sa UAAP Season 82, gumawa na siya ng ingay sa kanyang mataray na paglalaro. Subalit biglang nakansela ang UAAP 82 dahil sa COVID-19 kaya naudlot ang pamamayagpag ng rookie sensation ng UP. Sa isang ekslusibong panayam sa Bandera, inilahad ni Gamban ang kanyang saloobin sa mga nangyayari sa kanyang nagsisimulang volleyball career.

1. Kailan ka nagsimulang maglaro ng volleyball?
Grade 10. Sa labas ako nagsimula maglaro. Perpetual Las Pinas ako nag-high school at nahasa sa volleyball.

2. Paano ka napunta sa UP?
Nag-tryout ako sa UP.

3. Masaya ka ba sa UP? 
Yes. Super happy dahil marami ang nangangarapmakapasok sa UP. Pero pili lang ang nakakapasok.

4. Pinag-usapan ang una mong laro sa UAAP kontra Ateneo. Sinadya mo bang magpakitang-gilas para pag-usapan?
Di ko rin expect lahat. Pero isa lang ang nasa isip ko that time. Inisip ko na gagalingan ko at ibibigay ang lahat para umuwi kaming panalo sa UP Diliman.

5. Ano ang naramdamanmo nang kanselahin ang UAAP Season 82?
Sobrang lungkot. Kasi matagal naming pinagpaguran ang lahat. Sayang kasi gigil kaming manalo dahil sa pagkatalo namin sa UE.

6. Tingin mo papasok sa Top 4 ang UP  sa men's volleyball kung tinuloy ang Season 82?
Opo. Sa palagay ko may mararating ang pagsisikap namin araw-araw sa training. Malayo sana mararating namin sa Season 82 kung natuloy ito.

7. Marami kang fans. Pero marami ka ring bashers. Ano ang masasabi mo sa mga bashers?
Ang mga bashers, normal lang yan. Di ko rin naman sila mapipilit na magustuhan ako. Lalo ko na lang pagbubutihinang paglalaro para may mapatunayanako sa kanila.

8. Pangarap mo bang mapabilang sa national team balang araw?
Siguro naman lahat ng atleta gusto i-represent ang bansa natin. Pagbubutihinko para dumating din ako sa puntong yun.

9. Ano ang motto sa buhay ni Louis Gamban?
Alamin ang tama at mali. Pag alam mong nasa tama ka, ipaglaban mo.

10. Ano ang mensahe mo sa UP community?
Salamat sa lahat nang nakaka-appreciate sa talent ko at ng team. Magsusumikap kami para makakuha ng maraming panalo. Salamat po sa suporta.

ANG TUNAY NA LAKAS NG PVF KONTRA FIVB BA, AVC, POC AT LVPI

Noong nakaraang 36th FIVB World Congress, bukod sa nag-desisyon na panatilihing miyembro ng FIVB ang PVF, nagpasiya din ang FIVB GA na putulin na ang ano mang kaugnayan ng LVPI sa FIVB. Samakatuwid, natanggal na sa FIVB ang LVPI matapos ang huling FIVB Congress na ginanap sa Cancun, Mexico noong 2018.

Palibhasa malakas ang padrino ng LVPI sa FIVB BA at AVC at nagbubulag-bulagan ang POC sa katotohanan, nananatili pa ring buhay ang LVPI. Bagamat walang basehan, patuloy na naghahari-harian ang LVPI sa Philippine volleyball.

Subalit ang hindi alam ng POC at LVPI ay ang katotohanan na dumating na sa punto na hindi  lang PVF ang lumalaban para makamit ang katarungan. Ngayon, nakisawsaw at nakisali na rin ang ilang bansa na miyembro ng FIVB sa laban ng PVF. Ilang mga bansa na ang nagpahayag ng suporta sa PVF at pagtutuol sa LVPI.

Ngayon, tangka ng LVPI na magpadala ng mga koponan sa ilang AVC events sa taong kasalukuyan. Ito marahil ang papatay sa LVPI at AVC sakaling papayagang sumali ang mga koponan ng LVPI. Labag sa FIVB Constitution at desisyon ng FIVB GA ang pagpayag na makilahok ang mga koponan ng LVPI. Walang karapatan ang LVPI na sumali sa ano mang AVC o FIVB event matapos itong patalsikin sa FIVB.

Dahil nakatutok na ang buong mundo sa nangyayari sa volleyball sa Pilipinas, kailangang maging maingat ng FIVB BA, AVC, POC at LVPI sa kanilang mga hakbang. Isang pagkakamali lang, tiyak ang pagguho ng mga nasabing institusyon  Hawak ng PVF ang suporta ng mahigit isandaang bansa. Ito ang matinding sandata ng PVF sa patuloy na pagmamalabis ng FIVB BA, AVC , POC at LVPI.

THE VISIT OF FIVB OFFICIALS TO MANILA

Five top officials of FIVB are coming to Manila next week to "fix" the problem in Philippine volleyball. But what is the real problem in Philippine volleyball at this point in time anyway?

The problem does not really involve the determination of the true FIVB member for the Philippines. That has been resolved at the 36th FIVB World Congress in Cancun, Mexico with PVF voted as the one and only member of FIVB from the Philippines.

The problem really involves the FIVB BA decision to grant provisional membership with all the rights to LVPI. When the FIVB GA voted to keep PVF as FIVB member, LVPI was effectively removed from FIVB. As a result of the FIVB GA decision, LVPI was disaffiliated from FIVB.

But the influence of certain Filipino sports officials enables LVPI to continue acting like a member of FIVB. With the help of the FIVB BA and POC, LVPI continues to enjoy full rights as a national federation at the expense of PVF.

But the FIVB GA has had enough. It questioned the highly illegal decision of the FIVB BA decision in May 2019. With the pressure exerted by the highest authority in FIVB, FIVB BA decided to come to Manila to show a semblance of an objective attempt to "fix" the problem.

To cut a long story short, top FIVB official are scheduled to arrive in Manila to enforce and apply the decision of the FIVB GA. That is, put PVF as the national federation, with all its rights, in Philippine volleyball.

QUESTIONS THAT THE FIVB LETTER TO PVF RAISES

The letter of FIVB General Director Fabio Azevedo to PVF President Boy Cantada raises more questions than answers.

1. Is it true that several FIVB member nations questioned the status of PVF which prompted FIVB BA to take up the issue once again? The votation on the membership of PVF to FIVB was conducted in an orderly and honest manner in front of nearly 200 member nations.in Mexico at the 36th FIVB World Congress. So it is hard to believe that several nations will have the gall to question the results of the votation.

2. Is there an issue to be resolved which demands the visit of five members of the FIVB BA? The FIVB General Assembly (FIVB GA), which is the highest authority in FIVB, has decided to keep PVF as FIVB member and disaffiliate LVPI in 2018. It is crystal clear that it is PVF that is the FIVB as determined by the FIVB GA.

3. Why is the visiting team composed of personalities closely identified with LVPI? Wei Jizhong threw a tantrum in the 2016 FIVB World Congress to effectively stop the votation that would have clearly favored PVF. Fabio Azevedo, on the other hand, took the time and effort to rebut the letter of appeal of yours truly to the 222 member nations of FIVB. The letter of appeal, backed up with official documents, refuted the lies that POC peddled before FIVB and showed PVF as the victim of injustice.

4. Why does FIVB BA think that it can overturn the decision of the FIVB GA? Does FIVB BA think that it is more powerful than the FIVB GA?

Perhaps, the FIVB BA. with the help of Filipino sports leaders, think that the Filipino people are stupid. I hope that the proud and mighty FIVB BA will realize that the Filipino are not stupid as they think in the coming days.

ANG TUNAY NA MAKAPANGYARIHAN SA PHILIPPINE VOLLEYBALL

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Sa 36th FIVB World Congress na ginanap sa Cancun, Mexico noong 2018, bumoto ang mahigit isandaang bansa para panatilihing miyembro ng FIVB ang Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF). Sa nasabi ring kongreso, tinuldukan ang ano mang kauganayan ng Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) sa FIVB.

Sa bisa ng boto ng mga miyembro ng FIVB, ang PVF ay nahirang at naitalagang National Federation (NF) ng volleyball sa Pilipinas. Ang pagkilala ng International Federation (IF) ang batayan sa pagiging NF ng isang federation ayon sa konstitusyon ng IOC, FIVB, AVC at POC.

Nagkakaroon ng problema ngayon sa volleyball sa Pilipinas dahil patuloy na di kinikilala ng POC ang desisyon ng FIVB na panatilihing NF ang PVF. Patuloy na hindi kinikilala ng POC ang desisyon ng mahigit isandaang miyembro ng FIVB. At ayaw paawat ang POC sa pagkilala sa LVPI kahit na isinuka na ito ng mga miyembro ng FIVB. Tahasang at lantarang sinusuway ng POC ang mga konstitusyon ng IOC, FIVB, AVC at maging sarili nitong konstistusyon sa pagkilala nito sa LVPI at pagtalikod sa PVF.

Kamakailan, lumabas sa isang artikulo na balak ng POC pagbuklurin ang mga volleyball stakeholders sa ilalim ng isang bagong pederasyon. Ito ay labag sa desisyon ng FIVB at maaring ikasuspindi ng POC sa IOC kung ipapagpatuloy ng POC ito. Hindi maaring gumawa ng isang aksyon ang POC na di naayon sa desisyon ng FIVB at ang tanging hangarin lang ay panatilihin sa puwesto ang mga LVPI officials.

Sa kasalukuyan, nananatiling suspindido ang Pilipinas sa FIVB at di ito maaring makilahok sa mga international volleyball tournaments.

Marahil, panahon na upang ipaalam sa POC kung sino talaga ang makapangyarihan. Marahil, ngayon na ang tamang panahon para iparating sa POC ang poot at galit ng mga volleyball fans. Panahon na para ang mga totoong nagmamahal sa volleyball at mga atleta nito ay magsama-sama at magsagawa ng aksyon laban sa pang-aaping nangyayari sa volleyball.

7 THINGS THAT ARE CLEAR ABOUT THE CURRENT PHILIPPINE VOLLEYBALL CRISIS

courtesy of bworldonline.com

1. It is clear that Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) is the one and only member of FIVB and AVC from the Philippines. As such, it is the entity that is entitled to be the one and only national federation for Philippine volleyball. It is also the only one that can form and send teams to FIVB and AVC events.

2. Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) is not a member of FIVB and AVC. It cannot send teams to compete in FIVB and AVC events.

3. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) refuses to recognize PVF immediately to beat the deadline for the submission of entries to AVC events.

4. PVF has its share of incompetence as it fails to claim complete victory despite the favorable FIVB GA decision that was made last November 2018.

5. LVPI deceives the players, coaches and general public by pretending it can send teams to international volleyball competitions. LVPI knows very well that it cannot.

6. The Philippines will not be able to participate in AVC or FIVB events for 2020. Unless a miracle happens with POC having a change of heart and suddenly reinstates PVF before midnight, Philippine volleyball will come to a full stop in international competitions.

7. Players, coaches and fans must come together to save Philippine volleyball. The country's sports leaders do not care about volleyball and players at all. People must therefore show that those who love the sport and its athletes do.