THE decision of the Philippine Olympic Committee to recognize a new national sports association in volleyball must be respected.
Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) secretary-general Shanrit Wongprasert said this yesterday after he met with officials of the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc.
“We have to respect the decision of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) because all the national federations have to work under the NOC, and the FIVB and the AVC. And we have to work with the group recognized by the POC,” said Wongprasert during yesterday’s draw of lots ceremony of the coming Asian Women’s U-23 Volleyball Championship at the Crowne Hotel in Ortigas.
Wongprasert and International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) president Ary Graca issued recognition to Romasanta’s group.
Last week, POC first vice-president Joey Romasanta clinched the presidency while former Misamis Oriental congressman Victorico Chavez bagged the chairmanship during the LVPI polls.
Also elected were Peter Cayco of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as vice-president, Ricky Palou of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and Shakey’s V-League as secretary-general, Ariel Paredes of the Philippine Superliga as treasurer and Jeffrey Tamayo of NCAA as director.
The Philippines is expected to be involved in at least six international meets calendared by the AVC later this year, according to AVC Development and Marketing Committee chairman Ramon Suzara.
This includes the Asian under-23 men’s championship in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from May 12 to 20.
Suzara said the FIVB aims to provide another opportunity for age-group players to join international meets.
The tournaments will provide stepping-stones as qualifiers to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.