ALAS Pilipinas Women players have been cleared by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) to return to their mother teams in the PVL.
PNVF president Ramon ’Tats’ Suzara green-lit Alas Women players’ early release from national team duties and can return to the PVL as soon as possible.
READ LIST: PVL players set to return after Alas duties
“Mr. Tats Suzara of PNVF released the players to the clubs, so they were allowed to play na,” Palou said.
“They had a meeting the other night and that’s when he announced na all the national team players can go back to their clubs and play.”
It didn't take long for some Alas Pilipinas stars to suit up as Alleiah Malaluan is already in uniform for PLDT opposite fellow Alas star Jen Nierva who's playing for Chery Tiggo.
What led to Alas Women's early release
Section 6.1.1.b of the FIVB sporting regulations on the parameters of the national team period state the following:
- "During this time, national team competitions shall have priority in the calendar. National Leagues and Confederation club competitions may operate during this time only subject to the approval of the FIVB.
- “Such approval may be given for Confederation club competitions or the highest division of National Leagues if the territory in which the National League is based is not participating in international competitions and the National League or Confederation can demonstrate that no national team players participating in international national team competitions will take part in the competition during its overlap with the National Team period.”
It wasn't made clear if Suzara, concurrent FIVB executive vice president, lodged a formal request to the sport's world governing body for the Nationals to be granted early release back to the PVL.
But as per Palou, Suzara argued that the national federation did not want to hold its players back from fulfilling their club duties when there are no immediate international tournaments lined up yet.
"The national team period is up to October 15, but wala nang laro eh, so why hold them," Palou said.
"That's what we were discussing with president Tats Suzara. Sabi niya, 'wala nang game, so pwede nang bumalik. Why will we hold on to them if the club thinks we need them?' Very accommodating si President Tats Suzara."
The caveat that comes along with their early release will be the PVL-slash-Alas players' continued participation in a series of thrice-a-week national team training sessions throughout the remainder of the year.
"They will still be practicing. Ang usapan namin is I think that the teams, they will allow the national team players to train with the national team three times a week until the end of this tournament," Palou added.
"After that, may plano pa ata silang to train abroad but they’re looking for a schedule for when they can do that."
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