FIVB president praises POC, PNVF

MANILA, Philippines — The president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) praised the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) for its excellent hosting of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The FIVB also took its hat off to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by Abraham Tolentino for finding a solution to the problems that used to hound the national association in volleyball.

With the picturesque Taal Volcano as backdrop from the Knights Templar Hotel view deck in Tagaytay City, FIVB president Ary da Silva Graca thanked Tolentino for his professional handling of the situation that forced the world governing body to “suspend” Philippine volleyball for almost one Olympic cycle.

“Thank you very much (again) Mr. President (Tolentino)…not only for the extraordinary lunch, but you helped us solve the problems here in the Philippines,” Graca told Tolentino.

“You are very strong,” added Graca, who was accompanied by his wife, Marina, and FIVB general director Fabio Azevedo.

“It’s an honor,” said Tolentino, who helped solve the leadership crisis in the volleyball in February last year leading to Ramon “Tats” Suzara assuming the PNVF presidency.

The PNVF’s successful hosting of the VNL that featured 16 of the top men and women teams in the world over the past two weeks didn’t escape Graca’s attention.

“It’s a 10,” Graca told key PNVF and local organizing committee personnel during a congratulatory meeting last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.