PNVF drops Lady Bulldogs

The champion of the ongoing Premiere Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Cup will represent the country in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup for Women that starts in two weeks at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) decided to field the PVL Invitational champion, instead of a 14-member national team that had 12 players from the National University (NU) women's volleyball squad.

The PNVF officially informed NU president Dr. Carlos Ermita Jr. of the development in an email sent on Sunday.

"We are now writing to inform your good office, though with much regret, that we shall be releasing the NU student-athletes and coaches from the national training program, effective today (Sunday), 7 August 2022," the PNVF said in its letter to Ermita.

"We have been compelled to make this difficult yet important decision due to the recent turn of events within the team's training schedule and corresponding availability. We feel that the said student-athletes and coaches, alongside the team manager Engineer Bing See Diet, may not be able to commit to perform at their best level given a number of restrictions and conditions that hinder the continuous conduct of training and overall program."

The federation added: "However difficult it may have been, please trust that with this decision, we have considered to serve only the best interests and utmost welfare of the student-athletes, the coaches, the university management, the national team program, while keeping aligned with PNVF's strategic goals as a national federation, fully responsible and accountable for the sport of volleyball in the Philippines."

The released NU Lady Bulldogs were Ivy Lacsina, Mhicaela Belen, Shaira Jardio, Evangeline Alinsug, Cess Robles, Sheena Toring, Jen Nierva, Nicole Mata, Alyssa Solomon, Camilla Lamina, Kamille Cal and Joyme Cagande.

The PNVF will request the PVL Invitational champion to include the two non-NU players on the national team — Jelai Gajero of California Precision Sports and Trisha Genesis of Akari — to be its 13th and 14th player on the lineup.