THIS year will be like no other for Philippine volleyball with two major international tournaments lined up by the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas and Philippine Superliga.
Ramon Suzara, PSL president and key officer of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and the International Volleyball Federation, bared the plans during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Coming up in September is the Asian Club Championship where Foton, the reigning PSL Grand Prix champion, will represent the country against the best women’s volley clubs in the region.
Suzara, an LVPI adviser, said Foton has the prerogative to beef up the team by tapping players from other PSL teams. It can also hire as many imports as long as only two are fielded at the same time.
A maximum of 12 teams, including reigning Asian WCC champion Thailand, will see action from Sept. 3 to 13 either at the Philsports Arena in Pasig or the MOA Arena in Pasay.
The winner will represent Asia in the prestigious World Club Championships, which the country will also host from Oct. 18 to 23 at the MOA Arena.
Suzara, head of the AVC developmental and marketing committee, said the world’s top eight women’s clubs will compete in the event to be held in the Philippines for the first time.
“It’s the first time in Philippine volleyball history,” said Suzara, also a member of the FIVB development commission. He said the PSL is finalizing a deal with TV5 as the event’s TV partner.
The PSL, said Suzara, has been awarded by the FIVB the right as local organizer of the World WCC, which will feature the world’s best.
At least three clubs from Europe, including Russia, Italy and Switzerland, will vie together with two South American clubs, including one from Brazil, will come in.
For Asia, it will be Japan and China, and Suzara said he’s still trying to convince the FIVB to award a slot to the host country, the Philippines.
If granted a slot, the PSL will field its top six players to be joined by six imports to be recommended by the FIVB. Suzara said the imports can be paid as much as $10,000 each.
Suzara said for imports, he might request for a Brazilian setter, and a couple of tall players from Russia, then the others from the United States or Italy.
The PSL chief added in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. that he’s also eyeing a foreign coach to beef up the Filipino coaches.
Suzara said it will cost up to $1 million to put up the World Club Championships where a total cash prize of $500,000 will be at stake.
“We’re talking about the best clubs and the best players in the world,” said Suzara, stressing that only club players are entitled to play in the two events.
Suzara said for Alyssa Valdez to represent the Philippines in the Asian Club Championships, the country’s most popular player must be a member of any PSL team.
“By procedure she needs to be with a PSL club. She needs to be drafted. I don’t know because
she’s still in the UAAP. But if some PSL team gets her why not? She’s Miss Volleyball,” Suzara said.