CHICAGO - If you're wondering why some top players are noticeably absent from the ongoing PVL on Tour, this is what women's national team coach Jorge de Brito told our SPIN.ph colleague John Mark Garcia about the issue.
"All WNT players aren't allowed to play during the WNT season."
He's not wrong. A provision under article 6.1.1b of the General Rules of the FVIB rules mandates that from May 16 to October 15, "national competitions shall have priority in the calendar."
READ De Brito on the lookout for additions to the Alas Women pool
But rules, which are often designed for guidance and structure, are not always right, and often require revision or change depending on the situation.
And that appears to be the case here where the restriction is carte blanche and leaving teams paying top dollar for star players holding an empty bag.
While teams are able to take the gut punch of not availing the services of their aces in the name of national pride, there's a lot of real unhappiness, one bordering on rebellion, about the fact that de Brito is still coaching Capital1 in the PVL Tour.
NOT A GOOD LEADER.
It's a horrible, unseemly look, like wearing Wranglers at a Levi's party. The sight of the Brazilian straddling the sidelines last night also reeked of unfairness and had arrogance written all over it.
Is he a better mortal to deserve the exception?
And while he has not broken any rules, de Brito is not making new friends while continuing with a gig his players aren't allowed to partake in. It's a play from that old Garden of Eden tale where only Eve takes a bite of the forbidden apple.
A good leader would have sympathized with the plight of his restricted national team players. I guess sensitivity towards others' feelings and deprivation isn't for everybody.
PVL president Ricky Palou shares my sentiments.
"He shouldn't be allowed to coach, too," Palou told me in a telephone interview on Monday night. "But that's the decision of the PNVF."
DON'T BREAK IT, JUST BEND IT FOR FAIRNESS.
Rules about this national players' restriction can't be broken, but it can be bent, a wise man told me, if only to ease the disadvantage of PVL teams affected by the ban.
Such an approach may be beneficial to the volleyball federation as well in a way that teams will still be encouraged to lend players to the WNT even when they are no longer required to, beginning with the SEA Games this December.
But don't hold your breath on this one.
Palou said the FVIB had already made it clear that it won't ease said restrictions because if players had a choice on which calendar to adhere to, the federation can't compete with the high salaries that private clubs play.
Oh yeah, it's always the money's fault. Never mind competitive fight and giving PVL fans value for their tickets by making sure stars are available.
It's a bad spot. But something's gotta give.
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