STRONG Group Athletics (SGA) owner Frank Lao is prepared to take an even bigger role in Philippine volleyball’s national team program, even if it means potentially walking away from the PVL altogether.
The business tycoon and sporting patron behind PVL teams Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee revealed that he is willing to build a national team core of players from the six volleyball programs either owned or supported by SGA, if the growing rift over club and country commitments does not change.
READ: Farm Fresh, ZUS Coffee reserve first two draft picks for Alas
“Hanggang kaya ko, kahit na ‘yung dalawang teams ko na ZUS [Coffee] at Farm Fresh para mabuo ko ang Alas team, gagawin para sa bayan,” Lao told SPIN.ph.
His remarks come at a crucial juncture as the sport deals with changes to the leadership landscape after the ouster of former Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tats Suzara and the recent statements made by the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) on the availability of players to the Alas program.
Lao anticipates that Alas will have a hard time putting together a national pool under the current situation.
“Problema ngayon, walang players na gusto sumali at lahat ng bagong player, gusto mag-draft. Kawawang Pilipinas,” said Lao, who on Wednesday committed to loan to Alas the selections of ZUS Coffee and Farm Fresh in the first two rounds of the next PVL Rookie Draft.
Pointing out that the departure of three PVL teams has created a bigger surplus of players without teams, Lao bats for the Alas Pilipinas draft model initially proposed by the new PNVF leadership under president Tony Boy Liao.
“Tatlong teams na ang na-disband, kaya mahigit 100 players ang nawalan ng trabaho. Instead na ibigay ang draft sa Alas, they want more. Paano naman ‘yung mga nawalan ng trabaho? Supply and demand lang naman ‘yan," Lao said.
The SGA owner said he hopes to put up a national team pipeline using the talents already at his disposal with the help of Philippine sports authorities.
“Ako, I am willing to assemble from my teams, ZUS Coffee, Farm Fresh, Benilde, Letran, UST and UP for the country,” he said. “Kaya kapag pumayag ang PSC [Philippine Sports Commission), gagawin ko at ako ang gagastos.”
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