THE LETTER THAT DISTURBED FIVB AND POC

courtesy of theodysseyonline.com

Dear National Federation President,

Greetings once again from the Philippines.

I initially wanted to answer Mr. Fabio Azevedo’s response to my first letter of appeal to you. But I do not want to burden you anymore with yet another long and tedious argument and to belabor the facts and issues involved. Instead, I wish to prove that Philippine Olympic President (POC) Jose Cojuangco Jr. did not tell the complete truth to FIVB. It is the only way to put a stop to, once and for all, all the arguments and justifications that FIVB is using in connection with its withdrawal of recognition from Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF).

In his letter to FIVB dated January 20, 2015, POC President Cojuangco stated that PVF “ has not served the best interest of Philippine volleyball for years “ as manifested by “ by being a non-participant in the Southeast Asian Games from 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 and a great number of tournaments. “ As a result, PVF lost its status as a national federation with the POC. And the POC president endorsed Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) as the new national federation for volleyball prompting FIVB to recognize LVPI as the new national federation thereafter.

But I wish to call your attention to the letters of intent and official line-ups of the PVF teams from 2007-2011 that were submitted to PSC by PVF precisely for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). The attachments are solid proof of PVF’S intention and desire to participate in SEAG from 2007-2011.  These attachments reveal that PVF was not remiss in its duty of forming national teams and discovering national athletes. Moreover, the attachments reveal that PVF ensured that the Philippines would be represented in SEAG. That PVF took the time and effort to prepare teams for the SEAG in all the years that the POC president mentioned. All these can hardly qualify as “ not serving the best interest of Philippine volleyball for years .” In 2013, PVF even intended to join the 17th Asian Women’s Senior Championship in Thailand as seen from one of the attachments.

PSC likewise issued a certification that “ Philippine Volleyball Federation is supporting the Philippine Sports Commission on the implementation of its grassroots sports programs namely, the National Youth Program - Batang Pinoy and the Philippine National Games (PNG) by providing technical experts or officials who administer the conduct and management of these national amateur volleyball events of the Commission. “ The certification certainly debunks the claim of Cojuangco that PVF has not served the best interest of Philippine volleyball most especially on the grassroots level. Kindly see the attachment of the said certification below for your reference.

According to the POC Constitution Article III b,  it is POC that shall be the sole authority for the representation of the Philippines at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games as well as other events held under the patronage of IOC and OCA and to undertake the organization of these Games when they are held in the Philippines. The term "representation" covers the decision to participate and the entry of athletes selected by their respective National Sports Association (NSA's). Thus, the non-participation of PVF volleyball teams in SEAG is therefore the work of POC itself. It is POC that refused to send the PVF teams to the SEAG. POC did not give PVF teams its approval to participate in SEAG despite their availability, willingness and preparedness to participate. What is only being observed is the apparent non-participation of PVF teams without taking into account why there is non-participation. POC refused to send PVF teams to SEAG for reasons that only POC knows. The blame for the non-participation of PVF teams to SEAG must be put squarely on the shoulders of POC.

In view of these latest revelations, I fervently hope that you see the need not to expel PVF from FIVB and to allow PVF to have a hearing at the Judicial Panel. FIVB committed a serious mistake in completely believing the statement of Cojuangco and aggravated that mistake when it decided to use Cojuangco’s misleading statement as basis for action.

It is now up to you to correct that mistake by voting no to the expulsion of PVF from FIVB and allowing PVF to present its case in a proper forum. That is the only way that justice can be served to PVF and the Filipino people in general.

Thank you.

Yours,

Eric F. Dimzon

Sports Journalist

WHY I BELIEVE PVF WILL LOSE ITS RECOGNITION FOR GOOD WITH THE FIVB BA

courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

I have said it before and I will say it again. Philippine Volleyball Federation  (PVF) will lose its recognition from FIVB for good if FIVB Board of Administration (BA) will have its way.

One merely has to read the 35th FIVB World Congress Working File to realize that the top brass of Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and FIVB really pushed for the expulsion of PVF. With a single letter from POC President Jose Cojuangco Jr., FIVB, in a week's time, withdrew its recognition from PVF. FIVB officials led by Graca, did not bother to study and evaluate the situation carefully and hastily gave its recognition to Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Incorporated (LVPI) which was endorsed by Cojuangco and Tats Suzara. FIVB cites Article 1.3.4 b in its constitution to justify the expulsion of PVF. But the said Article is wrongly applied to PVF since PVF is not anew applicant and was previously recognized by POC for the last 54 years. Hence, the Article cited by FIVB in expelling PVF is wrongly applied.

At World Congress in Argentina, the more than 200 member nations saw with their own eyes how FIVB Honorary Vice-President and BA member Wei Jizhong lawyered for POC and LVPI. Instead of maintaining neutrality, Wei blatantly campaigned for LVPI and succeeded in causing a commotion during Congress to protect LVPI. In the end, PVF representatives agreed to the creation of an ad hoc committee.

And this was the biggest mistake that PVF committed during World Congress.

The creation of an ad hoc committee paved the way for the same FIVB and AVC officials who campaigned actively for LVPI to decide the fate of PVF once again. At World Congress, what prevented the final expulsion of PVF from FIVB were the 200+ member nations, not the FIVB and AVC officials like Wei, Nasser, Wongprasert, Hoffiz and others. Bringing back the decision to the hands of these AVC and FIVB officials through the FIVB BA is a kiss of death for PVF. These officials will certainly not admit that they are partisan and will stand by their decision of withdrawing recognition from PVF than to admit their mistake.

To make things worse for PVF is that LVPI is so busy in forming national teams for the Asian Senior Championships and 2017 SEA Games. Once the ad hoc committee arrives in Manila and sees the active work of LVPI, members of the ad hoc committee will surely rule in favor of LVPI. PVF, instead of being highly visible with activities that will show its great promotion of volleyball in the country is unusually quiet these days. PVF President Boy Cantada seems to be so sure of victory for PVF when the ad hoc committee starts its investigation in Manila. Little does he realize that, from all indications, the decision is already a done deal and in favor of the other group if FIVB BA will have its say.

POC, WEI AND SUZARA IN 2006

courtesy of LVPI

I obtained a copy of Quinito Henson's article in Philippine Star dated March 23, 2006. What I find extremely interesting about the old article is that the names of Wei Jizhong and Tats Suzara appear.

Re: All's well that ends well: the 2007 BAP-SBP merger

RP 5 qualified for Asiad
SPORTING CHANCE By Joaquin M. Henson
The Philippine Star 03/23/2006


Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Asian Games task force head Go Teng Kok said yesterday the national cage team is qualified to play in Doha late this year and the only stumbling block is the suspension by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Go was recently in Doha with former Asian Basketball Confederation secretary-general Moying Martelino and Tats Suzara to confer with the Asian Games organizing committee on procedural matters.

"Because our basketball team finished fourth in the last Asian Games, we are automatically seeded in Doha," said Go. "But since we’re suspended, we couldn’t accept the entry form for basketball."

Go reported that several influential Asian sports officials offered to assist the POC in convincing FIBA to lift the country’s suspension. He singled out China’s Wei Ji Zhong, chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sports Commission and president of Asian volleyball, as particularly sympathetic to the Philippine cause.

"It was Mr. Wei who advised us to just proceed with what we’re doing," related Go. "Mr. Wei even asked to be briefed on the chronology of events that led to the suspension and how the POC is handling the problem."

Wei told Go there is no reason why FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann will deny POC’s endorsement of Pilipinas Basketball as the country’s new affiliate to FIBA in place of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) which has been expelled by the General Assembly.

"The basketball stakeholders strictly followed the conditions set by the memorandum of understanding signed by FIBA and the POC," said Go.

The only hitch is BAP president Joey Lina’s refusal to support Pilipinas Basketball. One of Bauman’s conditions to the POC is the unanimous approval from the five major stakeholders–the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Philippine Basketball League, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Lina–of Pilipinas Basketball. Lina has declined to support the new organization and is insisting on retaining the BAP in a "revitalized" form.

Go said more than the BAP, Baumann is aware that the PBA holds the key to the success or failure of the basketball NSA.

"Mr. Baumann knows the best players in the country are in the PBA and it is in FIBA’s interest for every country member to play its best in international competitions," continued Go. "We all know the PBA is the best Filipino league and its support is crucial for the national team to succeed. The PBA will no longer lend its players to the BAP and is committed to Pilipinas Basketball."

Go said the results of the coming FIBA-Asia elections will also impact on the Philippines’ fate. The voting is scheduled May in Kuwait with secretary-general Yeoh Choo Hock of Malaysia, a known BAP ally, trying to fend off the challenge of Middle Asia secretary-general Harih Sharma of India.

Lina said if FIBA expels the BAP as country affiliate to pave the way for Pilipinas Basketball’s recognition, it will send a danger signal to all NSAs that they may be unfairly killed by a National Olympic Committee.

Lina said in a letter dated last Aug. 30, Baumann said the POC’s expulsion of the BAP as an NSA was "inappropriate" and "out of proportion." He argued that on the basis of Baumann’s conclusion, the BAP has a strong case to present before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

But Go said Baumann was subsequently enlightened by the POC, which explained the expulsion was the result of due process and strict compliance of procedures. FIBA and the POC, in fact, signed a memorandum of understanding last Sept. 29 to dispel the earlier notion that the expulsion was "inappropriate."

Lina said he is committing to make radical changes in the BAP’s constitution, by-laws and leadership structure and assured the other stakeholders they will not compromise themselves by taking the BAP approach in resolving the impasse.

"Inheriting past liabilities should not be a cause for concern," said Lina. "The BAP officials can always sign an undertaking to assume the liabilities. And as far as cases in court are concerned, the BAP is still around so that’s not a problem either. It’s been over eight years since the BAP was sued by another group called the BAPI (Basketball Association of the Philippines, Inc.) but that hasn’t stopped us from operating."

Lina mentioned that the BAP went to court last year to force its reinstatement as an NSA in order to keep basketball in the Southeast Asian Games calendar.

"We won the case but the POC refused to accept the decision," said Lina. "We filed a case for contempt but that’s now academic since the Games are over. All we wanted was even just a temporary reinstatement to play basketball then the POC can remove us again after the Games."

Reinstating the BAP as an NSA is not an option for the POC because the General Assembly has spoken. Without NSA status, the BAP cannot continue to be accepted as a country affiliate by FIBA. That is a rule which not even the CAS can override or dismiss. The BAP’s expulsion as country affiliate is therefore inevitable.

Sacrifice is necessary to push Philippine basketball forward. Now is the time for the country’s sports leaders to show their patriotism, selflessness and commitment to what is in the best interest of the majority.

What I find significant as well is that the names of Wei and Suzara appear together in an issue involving the Philippine Olympic Committee's expulsion of a National Sports Association (NSA). Could it be that the expulsion of Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) from FIBA, as contained in the article, was the start of the deliberate disenfranchisement of NSA's by POC with the help of Wei and Suzara ? 

ANG NAGBABADYANG PAGKATALO NG PVF

courtesy of LVPI

Kung akala ng Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) na madali nitong makukuha ang ganap na tagumpay at muling pagkilala ng FIVB sa pamamagitan ng ad hoc committee na magsasagawa ng imbestigasyon, nagkakamali ito.

Kailangan tandaan at intindihin ng pamunuan ng PVF na natanggal ang pagkilala hindi lamang dahil sa kagagawan ng POC at LVPI kundi malaking bahagi ng pagkawala ng pagkiilala sa PVF ay gawa mismo ng FIVB at mga namumuno nito. Naging malaki ang kasalanan ng mga namumuno sa FIVB sa kawalan ng katarungang dinanas at patuloy na dinaranas ng PVF. Hindi maisasakatuparan ang mga kagustuhan ng POC at LVPI kundi sumang-ayon at kumilos pabor sa POC at LVPI ang mga tulad nina Graca, Wei, Nasser, Wongprasert at Suzara na pawang mga mahahalagang personalidad sa FIVB at AVC.

Kapansin-pansin na sina Graca, Wongprasert, Nasser at Wei ay nasa FIVB Board of Administration (BA) na siyang magdedesisyon sa mga rekomandasyon ng ad hoc committee matapos nitong magsagawa ng imbestigasyon. Saksi ang lahat kung paano pinaboran ng apat na ito ang POC at LVPI kung kaya naging madali ang pansamantalang pagpapatalsik noon sa PVF. Ngayon, muli na namang binigyan ng pagkakataon ang apat na ito na magdesisyon sa kapalaran ng PVF. Kahit na maging patas at makatarungan ang mga rekomendasyon ng ad hoc committee, ang pangkat pa rin na kinabibilangan nina Wei, Graca, Nasser at Wongprasert ang may huling pasya patungkol sa kung ano ang dapat gawin sa PVF.

Kaya sa malamang, muling makakalasap ng pagkatalo ang PVF sa kamay ng FIVB, POC at LVPI.. Sa bandang huli, LVPI pa rin ang kikilalanin ng FIVB. Ang nalalabing pag-asa na lamang ng PVF ay kung mapatunayan nito na totoo at wagas ang pakikisabwatan ng POC at LVPI kina Wei, Graca, Nasser, Wongprasert at Suzara para isahan at mapatalsik ang PVF. Ito ang malaking hamon sa patumpik-tumpik pang PVF ngayon.

THE NEW CHALLENGE FOR PVF

courtesy of LVPI

It is quite alarming that FIVB Board of Administartion member Shanrit Wongprasert came out with a statement that FIVB will only recognize a national federation (NF) for volleyball that is recognized by a National Olympic Committee (NOC). His statement was issued in connection with a volleyball dispute in India.

Shanrit's statement is clearly flawed as it does not consider and work within the framework where a corrupt NOC exists.

Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) stands to lose its case should the FIVB ad hoc committee and Board of Administration follow the stand of Shanrit. The problem in Philippine volleyball remains because of a corrupt NOC. People have been clamoring for a change in leadership in Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) precisely because people see the corruption within the institution.

It is interesting to note that Shanrit was instrumental in the suspension of PVF from FIVB. It was Shanrit who led Peping Cojuangco, Joey Romasanta and Tats Suzara to Wei Jizhong. The meeting of those personalities in Thailand started the ball rolling for PVF's suspension. Shanrit likewise was set to resign after Thailand was robbed of a slot in Rio Olympics. But he instead had a change of heart and chose to be a part of the extremely powerful FIVB Board of Administration after PVF overcame its expulsion in Argentina.

The challenge for PVF now is how to win despite the obvious partiality of the investigation. It is quite disappointing that PVF remains complacent and inactive with regards to the coming investigation. LVPI, with its allies in the persons of Wei Jizhong, Ary Graca and Shanrit Wongprasert, remains formidable. It is LVPI, not PVF, that can afford to be complacent.

TIME TO GIVE POC A DOSE OF ITS OWN MEDICINE

In yet another gross violation of the IOC Constitution on the principle of autonomy of national federations, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) issues a directive informing Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) that it is taking over Philippine Bowling Congress (PBC). The directive is dated November 26, 2015 and signed by POC Secretary-General Steve Hontiveros.

The directive from POC to PSC is yet another blatant and shameless takeover of POC of a legitimate and well-performing national federation. Perhaps, it is now time for the new administrators of PSC to takeover POC to finally put a stop to the wanton ways of POC. Perhaps, it is time to teach POC a lesson and make it feel just how terrible it is to be taken over for no reason at all. Time perhaps for POC to have a dose of its own medicine.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIVB AD HOC COMMITTEE TO PHILIPPINE VOLLEYBALL

courtesy of fivb.org

FIVB finally created the ad hoc committee that will investigate volleyball in the Philippines. The ad hoc committee, which was brought up and decided at the 35th FIVB World Congress in Argentina, has Jaime Lamboy of Puerto Rico, Tohomiro Tohyama of Japan and Vasavan Samuel of South Africa as members.

The newly-formed ad hoc committee is significant in several ways. One, it is an undeniable indication that FIVB itself finds the allegations of POC President Peping Cojuangco and LVPI President Joey Romasanta against PVF highly suspicious and irregular. Thus, FIVB sees the need to investigate though an ad hoc committee and prevent the expulsion of PVF from FIVB. Two, the committee provides an avenue where the abuses and corruption of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) can be verified, confirmed and exposed by an international federation. The corruption and abuses of POC may finally be confirmed by no less than an international federation in no uncertain terms. Three, the findings of the committee may serve as an example to other national federations in the country. That despite the extreme difficulty, a national federation, like PVF, can certainly get the justice it deserves provided it rises up to the challenge.

The task of finally defeating Cojuangco, Romasanta and POC in the eyes of the ad hoc committee remains daunting. But should PVF find the right formula, Peping and his men may just be put to shame and consequently be forced to resign in the end.