PNVF: No SEA Games squad yet

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation clarified that its board has yet to discuss the composition of the women's national team that will participate in the Phnom Penh Southeast Asian Games next year.

PNVF secretary general Don Caringal said there were no talks about sending the ongoing Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference champion to represent the country in the biennial meet.

"Right now, there has been no discussion if we will send the PVL champion (to the SEA Games). It has not been discussed in our board meeting yet," Caringal said during his online appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum Tuesday.

The PVL previously announced that the champion club of the import-laden conference and possible addition from other participating clubs will carry the nation's tricolor in the 32nd edition of the regional sports meet in Cambodia scheduled in May 2023.

In an interview with the Daily Tribune last month, PNVF national team commission chairperson Tonyboy Liao said that the SEA Games team will only be a selection of professional players.

The PVL is the lone professional league in the country.

The PNVF leadership, in a separate pact, has assured student-athletes specifically of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines of a chance to join the national team pool for the SEA Games.

The PNVF tapped PVL Invitational champion Creamline to represent the Philippines in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Cup for Women and the ASEAN Grand Prix.

The federation earlier released the core of UAAP champion National University from the original national squad that was supposed to play in the said international tournaments for refusing to play in the PVL semifinals due to health and safety concerns.

Creamline gave the country a best-ever finish in the AVC Cup at sixth spot.

Caringal said that national team coach Jorge Souza de Brito already has an initial list of players for the team, which is expected to start training this month.

"I think what is more important is the commitment of the players," Caringal said. "Right now, we are already scheduling the training. We will start one step at a time."