UAAP, NCAA face sanctions

For refusing to recognize the Philippine National Volleyball Federation’s authority, NCAA and UAAP are likely to be stripped of access to the benefits of the National Sports Association (NSA). A portent of bad things to come was PNVF’s refusal to loan its Video Challenge System (VCS) to the UAAP for indoor volleyball. There are only two VCS machines in the country. PNVF owns one and PVL, the other. Since PVL is currently in season, it won’t be able to loan its machine to UAAP until the second round. Playing the first round without the VCS and the second with seems highly irregular for a competition.

A VCS has a price tag of P2 million and UAAP is willing to pay rent for its use.  But with PNVF’s decision to turn down UAAP’s request, none is available at the moment. The crease in the relationship stemmed from UAAP’s advice to PNVF that it will source only four referees from the NSA and recruit about 10 others from non-affiliated groups. PNVF didn’t relish the idea that most of the UAAP referees would come from “outside” ranks. Curiously, the UAAP juniors competition has PNVF’s blessings through the efforts of UE’s Rod Roque who is UAAP’s representative in the NSA board. UAAP beach volleyball, which finished competitions last December, employed PNVF referees and the juniors are using PNVF referees. PNVF referees are working games in the PVL and Spikers Turf.

Before UAAP opted to defy PNVF’s authority, the NSA had actually earmarked 30 top officials, including seven international, for the league. NCAA also disregarded PNVF’s offer to use its referees.  Referees not affiliated with the NSA wouldn’t be updated on FIVB (International Volleyball Federation) rules. In a letter to Fr. Victor Calvo of the NCAA Management Committee, PNVF expressed disappointment on the use of “non-PNVF accredited or licensed officials” in beach volleyball. Unless thorny issues are ironed out, it appears both NCAA and UAAP will lose their membership in PNVF. That means the leagues will no longer receive sports equipment from PNVF and representatives will not be invited to attend referees and coaches courses, both local and international. But if the leagues are expelled, it won’t deprive their players from joining PNVF-sanctioned competitions and the national team.

“The set-up of deploying only four referees and without the VIS (Volleyball Information System) does not align with the objectives of our intended partnership,” PNVF president Tats Suzara wrote to UAAP volleyball commissioner Mike Verano. “Without the full complement of referees under the Refereeing Delegate, VIS team and VCS team, PNVF shall be unable to completely vouch for the level and conduct of the competition.” In the same letter, Suzara advised UAAP to refrain from quoting FIVB Rules of the Game as its competition isn’t supervised by PNVF and not to use the term “Control Committee President” which is intended to be “under the technical model and table of organization which PNVF had recommended under partnership terms with UAAP.”