Philippine Daily Inquirer

Superliga builds solid links with FIVB, AVC

- By June Navarro

THE PHILIPPINE Superliga (PSL) moves to make itself more up-todate with the internatio­nal game in its fourth year by building closer ties with the world volleyball federation (FIVB).

Superliga president Ramon Suzara said maintainin­g a solid bond with the FIVB and the Asian Volleyball Confederat­ion (AVC) would further revitalize the sport in the country.

“A healthy relationsh­ip with both the FIVB and the AVC will enable us to send more teams [to internatio­nal competitio­ns] and to host more high-level tournament­s that would be beneficial to the improvemen­t and develop- ment of the sport here,” said Suzara, also the chair of the powerful developmen­t and marketing committee of the AVC.

“We are looking forward to another explosive year. Not just here, but also abroad.”

Because it is attuned to internatio­nal standards, the PSL was tapped by the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. to lead the formation of teams that vied in the AVC Asian Women’s Seniors Championsh­ip in Tianjin, China; the AVC Asian Men’s Club Championsh­ip in Taipei; and the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championsh­ip in Phu Ly, Vietnam, last year.

The league also played a major role in the country’s hosting of the

AVC Asian Women’s U-23 Championsh­ip and its participat­ion in the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore and the prestigiou­s VTV Internatio­nal Women’s Volleyball Championsh­ip in Bac Lieu, Vietnam.

Suzara said the PSL may also be tapped to organize the AVC Asian Women’s Club Championsh­ip in September and the FIVB World Women’s Club Championsh­ip in October.

“This is our own little way of helping the sport,” said Suzara.

PSL chair Philip Ella Juico said the tie-up with the FIVB and the AVC has boosted the league since its inception in 2013.

“By adhering to the rules and regulation­s of both the FIVB and AVC, the PSL has grown by leaps and bounds,” said Juico.

The league will form a team to the Thailand Super League on March 23 to 29 and host the Asian Women’s Club event on Sept. 3 to 11. The league has also organized a West Coast Road Tour in the United States from Sept. 16 to 25.

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