PVL Invitational champs to play in AVC Cup

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Volleyball Federation yesterday announced the Premier Volleyball League Invitational champion will replace the all-collegiate national team in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup the country will host in two weeks.

The decision was made after the top official of National University, which has 12 of the 14 players originally slated to comprise the Nationals, was informed by PNVF president Ramon Suzara of the news.

“We are now writing to inform your good office , though with much regret, that we shall be releasing the NU student-athletes and coaches from the National Training Program, effective today (yesterday) 7 August 2022,” said the PNVF in the letter.

“We have been compelled to make this difficult yet important decision due to the recent turn of events within the team’s training schedule and corresponding availability. We feel that the said student-athletes and coaches, alongside the team manager Engineer Bing Diet, may not be able to commit to perform at their best level given a number of restrictions and conditions that hinder the continuous conduct of training and overall program,” it added.

The PNVF stressed “However difficult it may have been, please trust that with this decision, we have considered to serve only the best interests and utmost welfare of the student-athletes, the coaches, the university management, the national team program, while keeping aligned with PNVF’s strategic goals as a National Federation, fully responsible and accountable for the sport of volleyball in the Philippines.”

The released NU Lady Bulldogs were Ivy Lacsina, Mhicaela Belen, Shaira Jardio, Evangeline Alinsug, Cess Robles, Sheena Toring, Jen Nierva, Nicole Mata, Alyssa Solomon, Camilla Lamina, Kamille Cal and Joyme Cagande.

The PNVF will request the PVL Invitational champion to include the two non-NU players on the national team – Jelai Gajero of California Precision Sports and Trisha Genesis of Akari – to be its 13th and 14th player in the lineup.

The reorganization of the national team to the AVC Women’s Cup came a day after the announcement of the composition of a team made up of collegiate players.