Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) declared the immediate suspension of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on May 29, citing alleged violations of its Code of Ethics and governance issues.
Invoking Article 13.1.1 of its Disciplinary Regulations, the FIVB Board of Administration said the suspension removed the PNVF’s executive leadership and transferred local control to an ad hoc committee under the global federation, while an independent Ethics Panel continues its investigation into the matter.
With the local federation effectively paralyzed, the FIVB appointed Executive Committee member Hila Asanuma to head the ad hoc committee and assume interim control of the PNVF’s operations.
“Despite continued diplomatic efforts by the FIVB to find a sustainable path forward for Philippine volleyball, the suspension was deemed necessary to safeguard the sport, ensure athletes are prioritized, and uphold the long-term development commitments made for volleyball in the Philippines,” the FIVB statement read.
According to the federation, the decision was made after diplomatic interventions failed to resolve the issues surrounding the national sports association.
The conflict escalated following leadership changes within the PNVF, where Ramon “Tats” Suzara was replaced by Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Chairman Tony Boy Liao as the federation’s president.
Suzara, meanwhile, retains his positions as president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and executive vice president of the FIVB.
Under its new leadership, the PNVF allegedly attempted a unilateral move against Suzara’s presidency. The AVC Board of Administration firmly rejected the action, deepening divisions within the sport.
Prior to the suspension, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) had already cut off funding to the PNVF over lapses in national team participation commitments, failure to comply with branding requirements, and operational misalignment between the commission and the federation.
Mass withdrawals of several prominent Alas Pilipinas players drew the PSC’s attention to question the apparent absence of legitimate national team participation in the AVC Women’s Cup despite the PNVF receiving government funding.
Amid the ongoing turmoil, Alas Pilipinas veteran and former team captain Jia Morado-De Guzman has been vocal about the welfare of Philippine volleyball athletes.
In a series of Instagram stories posted several months ago, she wrote, “Representing the country has always meant a lot to me, and I know that same pride is shared by so many athletes — but more than that, it’s something we have a responsibility to protect and build for the generations that come after us.”
Morado-De Guzman has called for long-term planning, roster continuity and a system that does not force players to choose between national team duties and their professional or international careers.
Among the ad hoc committee’s immediate priorities are ensuring the participation of Philippine national teams in upcoming international competitions and guaranteeing the successful staging of the upcoming Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Women’s stop in the Philippines in June.
Despite the suspension, Alas Pilipinas women will still compete in the AVC Women’s Cup in Candon City, Ilocos Sur from June 6 to 14, backstopped by veteran returnee Alyssa Valdez following a wave of withdrawals from the national program.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is expected to formally suspend the PNVF’s participation in its next General Assembly, following the suspension.
