STEVEN Rotter was a surprise omission from Alas Pilipinas Men's 14-man squad in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship.
READ: Alas Men go down fighting against Tunisia in FIVB Worlds debut
As the 27-year-old Fil-American opposite hitter revealed himself, eligibility issues forced him to be cut from the Philippines' final roster despite being a mainstay for the last two years.
Make no mistake, though, it wasn’t a matter of national head coach Angiolino Frigoni overlooking his contributions.
It’s just that the sport’s governing body barred him from suiting up in this particular tournament.
“I’m still associated with USA Volleyball, so I have to change federations. I have to get that done, so I can play in the SEA Games,” Rotter told select reporters at the sidelines of the FIVB Worlds opener on Friday.
“People thought I got cut, it's not that. It's just technical things. It's just resources I have that hopefully can expedite it fast enough where I can play in the SEA Games, but I'm very optimistic and very positive, even though right now, it's kind of a bad feeling, but it is what it is.”
As such, it was a head-scratcher when lineups were bared and the Filipinos only had one natural opposite hitter in Leo Ordiales paired with a converted opposite hitter in Louie Ramirez.
Rotter's race against time
As explained by a Philippine National Volleyball Federationofficial to SPIN.ph, the federation’s appeal to have Rotter fielded for the global conclave was blocked by the FIVB’s rigorous vetting process on citizenship and eligibility of all competing players.
So much so, that even Rotter’s prior participation as a Philippine national team member in competitions like the 32nd SEA Games, AVC Challenge Cup for Men, and SEA V.League didn’t suffice for the FIVB.
Rotter, the reigning Spikers’ Turf finals MVP with Cignal, is in a race against time to complete the necessary paperwork to be deemed eligible as a Filipino citizen to play in the biennial meet this December.
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