The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is poised to officially suspend the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) during its upcoming General Assembly next month, aligning with disciplinary measures handed down by the sport’s global governing body.
The impending local suspension follows an immediate sanction issued by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), which cited severe governance issues and alleged breaches of its Code of Ethics within the PNVF.
POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino acknowledged receipt of the FIVB’s official directive, stating that the local Olympic body is obligated to honor the international federation’s decision.
”The POC will abide by the decision of the IF,” Tolentino said. “It’s their internal rules, but the POC will always be for the welfare of the athletes, their developmental program and the Olympic movement.”
Simultaneous with the immediate suspension, the FIVB designated an ad hoc committee to provisionally manage volleyball operations in the Philippines.
The international body specified that the caretaker group would prioritize maintaining the country’s presence on the global stage and ensuring the seamless execution of major local volleyball events.
”Its immediate priorities will be to support the participation of Philippine national team athletes in upcoming international competitions, alongside guaranteeing the successful delivery of the upcoming Women’s VNL stop in the Philippines, in close coordination with local organisers and relevant stakeholders,” the FIVB said.
While acknowledging the interim committee, Tolentino noted that the POC requires further details on how the temporary leadership will handle domestic responsibilities.
”We will clarify who will take over the PNVF’s domestic affairs,” Tolentino said.
The POC chief also voiced anxiety regarding the preparation of the Alas Pilipinas women’s national team, which is slated to compete in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup in Candon starting June 6.
A formal POC suspension is expected to trigger a freeze on government funding. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) may halt financial aid to the PNVF once the sanction takes full effect, with reports suggesting that some disbursements have already been paused as the PSC monitors the situation.
This development exacerbates the growing turmoil surrounding the federation under Tonyboy Liao’s leadership. The PNVF recently faced heavy backlash over a controversial “Alas Draft” system for national team selection, which was subsequently scrapped due to intense public pushback.
Athlete discontent has also surged, with former team captain Jia de Guzman and other Alas Pilipinas players publicly airing grievances regarding poor communication and organizational coordination.
De Guzman also reiterated the critical need to synchronize the domestic club schedules with the international volleyball calendar.
Internal friction peaked when multiple cornerstone athletes from the 2025 Southeast Asian Games roster opted out of the lineup for the upcoming AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup.
The PNVF has not yet released an official statement regarding the FIVB suspension or the impending POC sanctions.