The Philippine Volleyball Federation is eyeing the hosting of the Asian Women's Club Championships in Manila in May with the income generated from the event to be used in paying its $100,000, or close to P5.3 million, account to the sport's governing body, Federation Internationale de Volleyball.

The PVF does not have enough resources unless it could host the Asian volleyball tournament that hopefully will generate big sponsors so the funds raised can be used to pay our debts to the FIVB, PVF president Roger Banzuela said.

"We really need good event organizers, excellent marketing and our economic situation should continue its improvement for the PVF to settle its dues," Banzuela added.

The PVF may be indefinitely suspended if it fails to pay its arrears, he said.

The FIVB had given the PVF six months to settle its account after Banzuela wrote the international governing body to give his association enough time to pay.

The $100,000 represents the unsettled bonds for the Philippines' hosting of a leg of the World Grand Prix women's volleyball last year and another GP leg two years ago.

The PVF failed to pay the hosting fee of $75,000 or about P4 million for staging of a GP leg in Manila last year and it still has a $25,000 balance for hosting another GP tournament in 2004, Banzuela said.

He said that the tournament's organizers backed out at the last minute last year, while the marketing committee of the 2004 GP leg was not able to get sponsors.

The PVF head said he is also discouraging the country to hold another GP leg this year so that it will not dig a deeper hole for itself.

He called the $75,000 hosting fee an "unreasonable bond".

The FIVB started the implementation of the hosting fee in 2004, the year that Banzuela began his term as the PVF president.

The PVF president also informed his members about the possible suspension during the referees' congress in Baguio City last Dec. 27. *CIT

back to top

'RP should focus on less than 10 sports'
PVF moves to prevent suspension
Pay dorm accounts, Banzuela asks PSC
NEPRO-AC elects officers