RICKY Palou said he was blindsided by the series of sanctions that hit the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) over the past days.
The PNVF treasurer and PVL president admitted that he learned about the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)’s funding freeze, the FIVB's immediate suspension and the Philippine Olympic Committee's (POC) planned sanction at the same time as the general public through social media.
READ: World volleyball body FIVB suspends PNVF with 'immediate effect'
“Sa media ko lang nababasa. I haven't seen and been able to talk to anybody yet. All I know is what I see on social media,” Palou told SPIN.ph.
The developments have plunged Philippine volleyball into uncertainty, with the PSC first freezing PNVF funding before the FIVB suspended the federation over governance concerns and alleged ethics violations currently under investigation.
The POC later announced it would likewise suspend the federation following the international sanction.
Despite the flurry of developments, Palou said it remains business as usual from his standpoint as he has yet to receive any formal correspondence from the agencies and governing bodies involved.
“I don't know. Ang plano kasi namin is to sit down with PSC and find out what's going on, ‘di ba,” Palou said.
“Biglang sinasabi may violation. Kami naman, anong violation, ‘di ba? We want to clear out all matters before [responding].”
Palou is expected to meet with PNVF president Tony Boy Liao on Sunday as federation officials seek clarity on the situation and determine their next course of action.
“Not that I know of, I don't know. Like I said kanina, baka magkita kami ni President Tony Boy [Liao] mamaya and then I can find out more of what's going on,” he said.
The uncertainty has also raised questions about Alas Pilipinas Women, which is preparing for the AVC Women's Cup in Candon City from June 6 to 14.
For now, Palou believes the national team setup remains unchanged but doesn’t mean that it won’t or can’t.
“Alam ko sila pa rin. As far as I know, unless. I have no idea na,” Palou said.
Still, he acknowledged that the situation remains fluid and that more developments could unfold in the days ahead.
“Wala, I guess, I have no idea. Pero siguro, suspended internally, and locally, siguro we will continue to work,” he added.
Until official communications arrive and federation leaders sit down to discuss the matter, Palou said there is little choice but to wait and gather more information on one of the most consequential weekends Philippine volleyball has faced in years.
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