The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) formally canceled the 21st AVC Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championships that the country is supposed to host from 24 to 30 October.
Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) national team commission chair Tonyboy Liao broke the news to Daily Tribune, saying that the AVC had already instructed them to shelve their hosting of the prestigious continental tournament due to the uncertainties brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
The competition was originally set from 29 August to 5 September, but with the country enforcing an enhanced community quarantine two weeks ago, the federation moved it to late October.
Now, with Covid-19 infections in the country soaring to an all-time high, the AVC decided to formally drop the event by sending a revised calendar to the PNVF last week where the Asian Seniors tourney was no longer included.
The PNVF has yet to issue an official statement.
Liao said the AVC advised them to move the event to next year to coincide with the staging of the 19th Asian Games in China, the 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand and the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam.
He added that they are looking to hold the Asian Seniors around March, April or May next year but it will depend on the schedule of the SEA Games.
“Yes, that is already confirmed. It will be held next year because of the high number of Covid-19 cases here. Aside from that, our (quarantine) situation changes from time to time, making it hard for us to prepare. At least by next year, we could be sure that the cases would drop,” said Liao, who is also the commissioner of the Premier Volleyball League.
“We have already communicated to participating teams that it will be held next year.”
The last time the country participated in the biennial tourney was in 2017 in Biñan, Laguna.
Bannered by stars like Mika Reyes, Alyssa Valdez and Jaja Santiago with Francis Vicente as head coach, the Nationals finished eighth in a very strong 14-team field ruled by Japan with Thailand and South Korea settling for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
They skipped the next edition in South Korea in 2019, but are set to return this year with the PNVF taking over from the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. as the country’s official volleyball federation.
Hopes are high for the Filipinas this year.
They landed in a “light” group together with Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in Group A while powerhouse Thailand, South Korea, Iran and Australia will clash in Group B.
But more than that, the Philippines is supposed to parade a very promising team that has collegiate stars like Faith Nisperos, Eya Laure, Alyssa Solomon, Michaela Belen, Ivy Lacsina, Jen Nierva, Kamille Cal, Imee Hernandez and Bernadeth Pepito joining the seasoned crew of Aby Maraño, Mylene Paat, Majoy Baron and Santiago.
For good measure, Brazilian consultant Jorge Edson Souza de Brito added Filipino-American spiker MJ Philips, Rhea Dimaculangan, Dindin Manabat, Dawn Macandili, Kianna Dy and Tin Tiamzon to reinforce the pool.
But things didn’t go on as planned and the AVC pulled the plug just when the squad is already in the thick of its preparation in Batangas.
Liao, however, said everything is not yet lost for the Nationals as they will still see action in the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand from 1 to 7 October.
“They are getting ready for the Asian Women’s Club Championship,” he said, adding that their corporate sponsor, Rebisco, will be bankrolling their participation.
“It’s going to be the only remaining event for the national team this year since the Asian Seniors is already canceled.”
https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/08/24/avc-shelves-asian-seniors/