THE president of the International Volleyball Federation, or FIVB, gave a thumbs-up sign on the country’s hosting of a leg each of the women and men Volleyball Nations League.
“We never imagined the VNL here would be so beautiful and strong,” Fivb President Dr. Ary da Silva Graça told a press conference on Friday at the Grand Hyatt Manila at the BGC in Taguig City. “It’s fantastic and extraordinary.”
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation, headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara, is the organizer of the country’s VNL Quezon City hosting at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Week 2 of the women VNL wrapped up last Sunday, while Week 2 of the men’s contest is ongoing at the Big Dome.
“That’s why we should go here in the Philippines and Indonesia because the future of volleyball would be here in Asia,” said Graça, adding reference to the Indonesian president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, Rita Subowo, who’s in the country along with FIVB General Director Fabio Azevedo.
Subowo and Azevedo similarly hailed the PNVF for its remarkable hosting of the VNL.
Graça, 79, a former Brazilian national team member, said that the successful hosting of the VNL “proves that the Philippines is ready and prepared to host such various international tournaments, including the world championships.”
“Everybody was thinking before that it would be a big risk, but it’s not,” Graça said. “So congratulations to the people of Manila.”
Asia has finally grown up in volleyball from zero to 13 international competitions all over the region throughout the years, according to Graça, and the sport has continuously grown with the Philippines now being a part of it.
“We’re going to bid for a world competition here soon along with Indonesia and other countries around you,” Graça said.
He also encouraged the PNVF to keep empowering and developing the Philippine teams to attract public attention, press and the sponsors.
“And the FIVB is always here to give its 100 percent support to the PNVF without asking anything in return,” he said. “As I told you, we didn’t come here to get anything from your end but to help the development and empowerment of the sport.”
Graça said that the country doesn’t need to be an Olympic champion in five years although it needs to start the building now.
“We will provide nets, balls and everything. We’re willing to transfer our knowledge also,” he said.
Azevedo agreed with Graça, saying that the PNVFI has met FIVB’s expectations.
“We congratulate the PNVF for such a wonderful hosting and we expect more hosting to come,” Azevedo said. “The beauty of hosting the VNL is you can show it to your local community to inspire the young ones and this is the right investment for what Tats Suzara is doing.”
Subowo expressed gratitude to the Philippines for seeing the great progress of beach volleyball in the country since 1993 when she first introduced the sport in Boracay—where there was no electricity in the island.
“Look at Boracay now, it’s completely different,” she said. “We are working with sir Ramon [Suzara] during Asian Beach Games in Bali and other Asian activities. We will still work together.”
Suzara also thanked the FIVB for the trust and confidence given to the PNVFI to host the VNL.
“I’d like to thank the FIVB for its support. It’s been a tremendous success for the last nine days or ten days. As. I heard the tickets are sold out today until Sunday,” Suzara said.
“Without your support and the Volleyball Word, we cannot host this big event. It changes the landscape of volleyball not only in the country but in the whole world. It’s a historic moment.”
The last time an FIVB president visited the country was in 1994 when Mexican Ruben Acosta came over during the World Grand Prix in Manila.
“It’s 28 years of great mistake for the FIVB not visiting the country. I apologize,” Graça said. “But it’s pleasant to be here, it’s amazing and so astonishing.”
The FIVB leaders and Suzara watched live VNL men’s action later Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
End it…end it