EVEN as the PVL stood firm on its free agency rules, Farm Fresh team owner Frank Lao has appealed to the league to let Fil-Am setter Alohi Robins-Hardy play.
In filing the appeal, Lao bared alleged communications with league president Ricky Palou which he said led him and the team to believe that Robins-Hardy would be eligible to play for Farm Fresh in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
READ PVL stays firm on Alohi Robins-Hardy eligibility ruling
In a two-page statement distributed in a press conference the team called on Thursday, Lao said he had a gentleman’s agreement with Palou back in June that Robins-Hardy will be allowed to play in the league if she submits a valid Philippine passport.
However, Lao claimed he was caught off-guard after Palou had a change of heart and insisted that Robins-Hardy can't play in the league unless she goes through the PVL Rookie Draft.
Explaining its decision, the PVL said it had released a memorandum saying any player that has not played in the league since it turned professional in 2021 can only gain entry through the recently institutionalized PVL draft.
Robins-Hardy played for Cignal but in the defunct Philippine Super Liga. She also didn't declare for the maiden PVL draft.
"After the PVL draft, there was an agreement between me and Mr. Palou that Alohi can play provided that she presents a valid Philippine passport. That's why I was shocked to learn that she can't play unless she joins the PVL draft," Lao said.
"That's why it's really frustrating to know that they will not allow her to compete unless she joins the PVL Draft, which will happen next year."
According to Lao, Palou admitted that he committed an 'oversight' and, as to rectify the situation, agreed to let Robins-Hardy play in the league if majority of the league's 11 remaining teams submit letters of no objections to the move.
Lao claimed five teams - Farm Fresh’s sister team ZUS Coffee, Chery Tiggo, PLDT, Petro Gazz and Galeries Tower - backed his request.
There were two more teams set to complete the majority requirement, Lao added, until Palou decided to ‘suddenly pull the plug’ and went back to his previous 'no draft, no play' stance.
READ Why Lorene Toring can play for Farm Fresh and Alohi Robins-Hardy can't
“All we want is to be competitive, that's all. But how can we do it if we will not be allowed to recruit players whom we believe can help us achieve our goal?”
Lao added: “We want to make it to the top four that's why we're spending money and adding new recruits to help us entertain the fans and win the title."
“We know that there's no shortcut to success. That's why we're working hard to recruit and develop our team into becoming a title contender."
‘Really disappointing’
In the same statement, Robins-Hardy expressed her dismay with the league’s decision but said she remained hopeful that the door will swing open for her.
“It's really disappointing because I had to give up my job just to play and provide excitement to volleyball fans here in the Philippines,” said Robins-Hardy.
"I hope the PVL will reconsider its position and allow me to play. Volleyball means so much to me and competing in front of the Filipino fans is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life."
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