The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) reiterated its commitment to the country’s pursuit of the elusive podium finish in the Southeast Asian Games.

Loaning players for the national team’s cause is a no-brainer; however, the league sought to clarify that the PVL was not informed about the names included in the Alas Pilipinas pool released by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) for the biennial meet to be staged in Thailand in December.    

The federation on Tuesday announced the 20-woman pool, which includes 15 active PVL players. Head coach Jorge de Brito will trim the roster down to 14 for the final lineup, which will compete in the volleyball competition from 10 to 19 December at the Huamark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok.  

PVL president Ricky Palou told DAILY TRIBUNE that the league has not received any formal request from the PNVF for the release of the players on the list.

“We don’t know anything about that. We didn’t receive any request from the PNVF. What we learned, however, is that they went directly to the teams asking for their players to join the national team without informing us,” said Palou, who is currently in Portugal.

The PNVF vice president added that he just learned about the list when the news broke. 

“We don’t have any idea what they’re talking about. We were just surprised where the request came from. We haven’t even talked to the teams,” he said.

The PVL is currently holding its season-ending Reinforced Conference that culminates on 27 November.

The PNVF named skipper Jia Morado-De Guzman of Creamline in the pool along with Capital1’s Leila Cruz and Bella Belen, Julia Coronel of Galeries Tower, Akari’s Mars Alba, Fifi Sharma and Justine Jazareno, Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag, Cignal’s Dawn Macandili-Catindig and Vanie Gandler, ZUS Coffee’s Thea Gagate, Chery Tiggo’s Jen Nierva, and PLDT’s Dell Palomata and Alleiah Malaluan.

Also on the list are unsigned Eya Laure, Japan-based Alyssa Solomon and college stars Shaina Nitura, Angel Canino and Amie Provido.

PNVF leadership also announced that it will hold a training camp from 15 to 30 November, either in Japan or Taiwan.

“They want us to release our players, but we haven’t received any letter or request,” Palou said.

Palou said he will meet with the clubs that have members included in the PNVF’s Alas wish list once he returns to Manila on 2 November.

The league official added that he will also seek an audience with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino to air the PVL’s side on the issue.

POC on 24 October warned of withdrawing the participation of Alas Pilipinas in the 33rd SEA Games unless the PVL abides by a memorandum of agreement that guarantees a potentially strong finish by the women’s national team.

“We’ll talk to him about it. The PVL has always been supportive of the national team but it should be a give-and-take partnership. We are willing to loan players as long as we (PVL) and the teams are properly informed,” he said.

Palou clarified that it was the PVL that drafted a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which it sent to PNVF. Revisions were made without informing the league, and the PNVF attached the revised memo to their request for players sent to the clubs.    

“We came up with an MoU. We drafted one about lending players and gave it to them. They made changes and put in so many items and issues there without even talking to us. Then they gave it to the teams using the letterhead of Sports Vision (PVL organizer). We don’t know anything about that. That’s not what we drafted,” he said.

Based on the initial agreement with the PNVF, the PVL has given the green light for players to participate in Alas training twice a week (Sunday and Monday) while the import-laced tournament is ongoing.

The PVL has also abided by the national team window from May to October — not holding any regular conference within the period and loaning players to Alas to participate in international competitions.

The league, instead, held a pre-season On Tour and Invitational.