PNVF looks to heal rift with PVL as Tony Liao prioritizes national team calendar

Newly elected Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tony Boy Liao has confirmed that he plans to initiate discussions aimed at resolving the federation’s long-standing differences with the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), following Alas Pilipinas’ failure to reach the podium at the recently concluded 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

Despite a generally productive year for the Philippine women’s national volleyball team, the SEA Games proved to be a setback. Alas Pilipinas captured a historic silver medal at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup and added two bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Volleyball League earlier in 2025. However, the squad was unable to replicate that success in Bangkok, finishing fourth and extending the country’s volleyball medal drought at the SEA Games to 20 years.

During the tenure of former PNVF president Tats Suzara, tensions reportedly emerged between the federation and the PVL over the release of national team players for international competitions. While nine of the 14 players in the Alas Pilipinas roster came from the country’s top professional league, scheduling conflicts—particularly during the May-to-September international window—remained a major point of contention for PVL team owners.

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In an effort to address these concerns, the PVL introduced the PVL On Tour preseason tournament, allowing teams to remain active while still accommodating national team call-ups.

Liao now aims to strengthen coordination with league officials, stressing the importance of making national team players available for key international competitions such as the Asian Championships, SEA Games, and SEA V.League.

LIAO TELLS ALL 🇵🇭🏐

Newly-elected PNVF president Tony Boy Liao gets candid in a 30-minute interview on longstanding issues in Philippine volleyball, from the Alas Women roster conundrum to the national team calendar scheduling conflicts and many more.

He also talks about… pic.twitter.com/bx7rqocD1C

— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) November 22, 2025

“During the national team calendar, we used to have our PVL Invitational in May or June. Doon kami naglalaro, talagang during the national team calendar. Kung wala namang liga ang Alas, siyempre dapat maglaro sila sa club team nila. Next year, wala namang SEA Games, so you don’t have to report sa Alas unless may mga SEA V.League, may Asian Championship,” Liao said during a media interaction.

Liao also revealed that an alternative approach—forming a dedicated pool of young national team prospects—has gained support among some PVL team owners and key stakeholders.

“Another plan that has been brought up by some of the club teams, para wala nang problema with PVL and PNVF and the club teams, why don’t you form a pool of young players, under-16, under-18? Yan ‘yung ite-train mo nang magkakasama para pagdating ng PVL, hindi na hihiramin ‘yung national team players,” he added.

Whether this proposal gains momentum remains to be seen, but Liao’s willingness to engage PVL stakeholders marks a potentially significant step toward easing tensions and aligning priorities for the long-term development of volleyball in the Philippines.

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