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  • Frank Lao takes PNVF helm as volleyball federation begins new chapter

    Frank Lao takes PNVF helm as volleyball federation begins new chapter

    The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is turning the page on a turbulent stretch, with Strong Group Athletics owner Frank Lao taking over as president following a new leadership election supervised by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

     

    Lao returns to the federation’s top post after his previous election in June was declared invalid by the POC. The earlier polls were held while the PNVF was under suspension and without proper POC representation.

     

    This time, the election was conducted under POC supervision, giving the federation a new leadership structure as it works toward satisfying the requirements needed to lift its suspension by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

     

    The change in leadership comes after the FIVB sanctioned the PNVF in May over governance issues during Tony Boy Liao’s administration and later laid out sweeping measures that the federation must address before it can regain its full standing.

     

    For Lao, the new mandate comes with an immediate priority: helping put the federation back on solid organizational footing while keeping Philippine volleyball moving forward.

     

    “This is a ‘committed team’ and I believe they could sustain the progress of volleyball that started when the PNVF was established in 2021,” said POC president Bambol Tolentino.

     

    The new leadership group will see Atty. Donn Kapunan serve as vice president, while Rommel Ng takes over as treasurer. Wharton Chan was elected auditor and will also represent the POC.

     

    Joining them on the Board of Trustees are Sienna Olaso, Francis Chad Salimbangon, Carmela Gamboa, Otie Camangian, Mohamad Bernan Jr., and Atty. Jonas Cabochan.

     

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    The 13-member board is not yet complete, with the remaining spots—including a POC appointee and male and female representatives from the athletes’ commission—still to be announced.

     

    One of the notable developments from the election is the return of Ramon “Tats” Suzara to the PNVF board. Suzara, who previously served as federation president, was among those who were removed from leadership before Liao took over. Former secretary-general Caringal is also making a return.

     

    Their comeback adds another layer to a leadership transition that effectively brings together familiar figures and new officials at a critical moment for Philippine volleyball.

     

    FIVB Ad Hoc Committee chair Hila Asanuma of Palau and FIVB external legal consultant Atty. Alexa Dabao were present at the proceedings, witnessing and certifying the election.

     

    The polls were held at the Solaire Theater Southlinks Boardroom 2M, with the POC overseeing the process.

     

    The election also signals the end of the POC’s temporary role as caretaker of the national volleyball federation. The POC assumed that responsibility after the FIVB suspension, but with a duly elected board now in place, governance of the PNVF has been returned to its own leadership.

     

    With the organizational structure restored, the Lao-led PNVF must work through the FIVB’s requirements and prove that it can establish the governance standards needed to end the international suspension.

     

    For Philippine volleyball, the election is therefore more than a change at the top. It is the first major step toward restoring stability and getting the national federation back on the international volleyball map.

     

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  • SEA Plus Youth Games takes shape as PH pushes new pathway for Asia’s rising athletes 

    SEA Plus Youth Games takes shape as PH pushes new pathway for Asia’s rising athletes 

    What started as an idea to address a missing step in youth sports development is now becoming one of the Philippines’ biggest international sporting projects.


    The inaugural Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games (SEAPYG) took a significant step toward becoming a reality after holding its first Executive Council Meeting on Saturday at Solaire Resort in Parañaque City, gathering representatives from Southeast Asia and neighboring regions ahead of the event’s scheduled debut in December 2027.

     

    For Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the Games were born out of a simple question during the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain: where do promising young athletes compete after national grassroots tournaments but before reaching the continental level?

     

    “Naisip ko yan nung (2025) Bahrain Asian Youth Games. Asian Youth Games papunta sa Youth Games parang kulang. Ano ‘yan pagdating ng school, diretso ka na sa Asian Youth Games? Sila Palarong Pambansa, sila Batang Pinoy diretso na sa Asian Youth Games? Parang may kulang,” said Tolentino.

     

    That gap became the foundation of the SEAPYG, an under-16 multisport event envisioned as a developmental bridge rather than simply another competition on the calendar.

     

    Tolentino also explained why the event carries the word “Plus” in its name, emphasizing that the tournament aims to extend beyond Southeast Asia and raise the overall level of competition.

     

    “Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games. Bakit plus? Para yung non-Southeast Asian maisama natin para mas marami, mas maganda, competitive,” he explained.

     

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    The concept has already generated regional interest as Eight Southeast Asian nations participated in Saturday’s Executive Council Meeting, while delegates from 15 countries under the tournament’s “Plus” category also attended. Among those represented were the Maldives, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Chinese Taipei, Bahrain, and Nepal.

     

    Although Japan, Palestine, North Korea, and India were unable to send representatives, Tolentino remains optimistic that their absence from the meeting will not prevent them from competing when the Games officially begin.

     

    “Dalawang school of thoughts. Pwedeng umattend ngayon pero hindi pala magpaparticipate. Pwedeng wala dito pero magpaparticipate. So, kaya sabi ko kanina na we’re praying na lahat ng nandito will participate. And, positive naman. I think they will. So, this will be a very, very good start and exciting and for the country, for the youth, lahat nandito na,” he added.

     

    Momentum continues to build toward the inaugural edition, with representatives from eight of the 11 Southeast Asian Games Federation members and delegates from 17 invited National Olympic Committees taking part in the planning process.

     

    The Philippines will host the Games across four venue clusters—Manila, Pasig, Tagaytay, and Subic—with competitions expected to showcase the country’s existing sports infrastructure.

     

    Local Organizing Committee president and CEO Tatas Suzara said the focus is not only on staging the tournament but on delivering an event that meets international expectations.

     

    “Of course, my role here as President, CEO is to make sure we deliver the games with international standards. I think, with 23 sports and four clusters, we will be able to deliver at par with international standards with different sports,” said Suzara.

     

    He added that the organizing committee plans to maximize facilities managed by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Pato Gregorio, including the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

     

    More than a new regional competition, the SEAPYG is being positioned as a long-term investment in athlete development—one designed to give the region’s next generation a meaningful stage before they step onto the wider Asian and global sporting scene.

     

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  • Tats Suzara sees VNL hosting as key part of Philippines’ 2029 FIVB World Championship preparations

    Tats Suzara sees VNL hosting as key part of Philippines’ 2029 FIVB World Championship preparations

    The Philippines’ preparations for hosting the 2029 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship will begin in earnest this month as the country stages the Women’s Volleyball Nations League at Philsports Arena from June 17 to 21. 

     

    According to Asian Volleyball Confederation president and FIVB Executive Vice President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the country’s hosting of the Women’s VNL over the next three years is part of the long-term buildup toward the World Championship, which the Philippines will host in 2029. 

     

    Speaking during his visit to Candon City Arena on Thursday, Suzara emphasized the significance of securing the VNL for multiple years.

     

    “The reason for having the Women’s (VNL) for the next three years is because of the hosting of the World Championship in 2029,” Suzara said.

     

    The first major test comes from June 17 to 21 when the Philippines hosts Pool 5 of the Women’s VNL at Philsports Arena. The tournament will bring some of the sport’s biggest international programs to Philippine soil, including defending champion and world No. 1 Italy, No. 4 Japan, No. 7 United States, No. 9 Serbia, No. 12 Dominican Republic, and No. 13 Czechia.

     

    For Philippine volleyball officials, the event provides a rare opportunity to evaluate not only competition operations but also venue readiness, logistics, fan engagement, and overall organizational capacity ahead of the World Championship.

     

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    Suzara believes the quality of teams arriving in Manila will immediately provide local fans with a world-class showcase.

     

    “We have Italy here coming, Japan, Japan is playing well now. We have Serbia, although I heard Boskovic is not there, but it’s still a strong team. Of course, the Dominican Republic is still strong. Czechia, they already arrived and I think nagti-training na sila sa Philsports. And one more team, USA,” he added.

     

    The VNL’s return is also significant because it marks the first time the women’s competition will be staged in the Philippines since 2022, when the country hosted Pool B featuring Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Japan, Poland, Thailand, and the United States.

     

    Beyond the matches themselves, the upcoming week could prove crucial for the future direction of Philippine volleyball. Suzara revealed that officials from the FIVB are expected to arrive during the tournament to inspect preparations and assess the current state of the sport locally amid ongoing issues involving the suspended Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

     

    “So ito nakaka-support sa women’s national team natin. But hopefully, things will be better. Hopefully, next week when the FIVB comes to check the status of volleyball here, they’re coming here next week during the VNL and I think there will be some MOA signing between PSC and FIVB, so just be ready,” he said.

     

    The planned visit highlights how the VNL has become more than a sporting event. It will also serve as a checkpoint for Philippine volleyball’s readiness both on and off the court as it works toward hosting responsibilities on a much larger scale.

     

    Looking beyond this year, Suzara disclosed that organizers are already exploring the possibility of bringing the Women’s VNL to Cebu in 2027. This year’s matches were moved to Philsports Arena, a venue that has become a regular site for international competitions after hosting the AVC Women’s Champions League and other major sporting events.

     

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