A day after calling for the stop of “drawing out party lines” heading into the upcoming elections for the country’s new volleyball national sports agency, Philippine Superliga president Ian Laurel was confirmed to be eyeing the leadership of it.
PSL Chairman Popoy Juico bared that he and his group will support Laurel if the election pushes through either on the third or fourth week of January.
“If elections will be held, definitely Dr. Ian Laurel will run for president.
“He is the most prepared, he is an honest person, he has integrity, he has no hidden agenda, he has no personal interest in this. He is a former volleyball player. He has moved always for the unity of the volleyball community,” Juico gushed about Laurel during an interview with Power and Play.
Juico, who is the chief of track and field, recently lost in the Philippine Olympic Committee elections held last November, falling to basketball’s Al Panlilio for the first vice president position, 30-23.
The former Secretary of Agrarian Reform though questioned why elections must be held all of a sudden.
“We don’t know why elections are being held. Because as far as I know, the LVPI is in good standing. I think, I don’t know, this is just second-hand information but I think they are questioning that,” said Juico who is also an ally of Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Incorporated president Joey Romasanta.
Complicated has been the standing of both the LVPI and the Philippine Volleyball Federation under the eyes of the International Volleyball Federation.
Current LVPI president Joey Romasanta during a PSL press conference
LVPI was granted probationary status back in 2017 but the PVF was still recognized as a member albeit without voting rights by the FIVB.
That is why the POC, under the leadership of president Bambol Tolentino, was asked to supervise an upcoming election for a legitimate volleyball NSA before the FIVB holds its Online World Congress from February 5 to 7.
“Things are very fluid. We don’t know why we need an election at this time of a pandemic. There’s many issues to be resolved. It’s like a square peg in a round hole. Ngayon pa lang pinag-uusapan on how to reboot and restart the leagues and here you are coming up with a red herring. Maybe some parties have a hidden agenda. Bakit naman kailangan pa ng ganun?” wondered the veteran sports politician.
“Rest assured, Doctor Laurel and the rest of the PSL will be there.”
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