MANILA, Philippines - As far as volleyball is concerned, the ball is now in the hands of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
With two groups now representing the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) and the composition of the national teams in question, the POC has decided to step into the picture.
The POC, according to vice president Jose Romasanta, will form a five-man committee to take over the sport for now and help chart the course of Philippine volleyball.
Romasanta said the FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) and the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) have given the POC the go- signal to step in.
“The POC president, Jose Cojuangco, is exasperated with the volleyball issue. The AVC said it’s also exasperated so it has asked the POC to correct what’s there to be corrected,” said Romasanta.
There are two groups now wanting to represent the PVF and the POC has not recognized either.
Romasanta recently met with FIVB and AVC honorary life president Wei Jizhong and AVC vice president Shanrit Wongprasert in Phuket during the Asian Beach Games.
The POC wrote a letter to the AVC on how it plans to solve the issue and the other day the AVC responded by saying that the Asian body has discussed and deliberated on the matter.
“We are in agreement with what is embodied in your letter,” Romasanta quoted the AVC as saying.
“We leave it up to you. I know Mr. Cojuangco will do what is best. The longer it takes the more problems we will have. Just do it,” Romasanta also said of the AVC response.
Romasanta said he got the assurance of the AVC official that they will support any course of action the POC takes in making sure that Philippine volleyball is put on the right track.
“That’s where we are now,” said Romasanta.
A new set of teams has been formed by the group headed by Karl Chan. And while the POC believes that the country’s finest players are in the lineup, there’s still some reservation.
Romasanta asked if the players who’ve been chosen have been given clearance by their schools or the commercial clubs they play for.
The POC will form a committee to be headed by Romasanta and composed of key volleyball figures Ricky Palou and Ramon Suzara, and players Gretchen Ho and Angeli Tabaquero.
Also helping out is POC legal counsel Ramon Malinao.