Suzara to head new nat’l volleyball federation?

MANILA, Philippines — Is Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chief operating officer Ramon “Tatz” Suzara going to be the president of the new volleyball group the Philippine Olympic Committee is forming?

Suzara, representing Alliances of Philippine Volleyball Inc., was among the volleyball stakeholders herded by POC president Abraham Tolentino to meet at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati and is reportedly running for the top position in the election set next week (Jan. 25) at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Parañaque.

Also attending the meeting were Ariel Paredes, who represented the Philippine Superliga and the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc., Ottie Camangian of the Philippine Volleyball Federation, and Ricky Palou and Tony Boy Liao of the Premier Volleyball League.

“Volleyball is already unified at last, and the true winner here is Philippine volleyball,” said Tolentino, who was accompanied by secretary-general Atty. Ed Gastanes, membership committee chair Atty. Billy Sumagui and legal counsel Atty. Wharton Chan.

According to reports, Suzara is being groomed to lead the group, with Palou as treasurer, the chairman and auditor coming from the PVF, and the vice-president to come from LVPI.

After the election of officers, the new crop of volleyball leaders will reportedly serve for a term of one year before POC gives way and allows them to hold an election of their own.

The POC has given the group until today for the validation and submission of voting members and Wednesday for the nomination of candidates.

“We will report this to the FIVB and we’re going to invite them in the elections through video link,” said Tolentino.

The FIVB requested the POC to supervise the creation – through general elections – of the national sports association. The international body has withdrawn its recognition of a Philippine federation since 2016.