MAKARAAN ang maraming taon na pakikipaglaban para sa karapatan ng Philippine Volleyball Federation, sa wakas ay nakamit ni Edgardo ‘Boy’ Cantada ang katarungan nang kilalanin ng FIVB ang PVF bilang legal at lehitimong volleyball association sa bansa at pinatalsik ang Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI).
“FIVB finally has spoken recognizing PVF as the sole legal volleyball association sa Pinas na may karapatang mag-organisa ng mga laro at magpadala ng team sa mga international sports competition tulad ng Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games under the auspices of International Olympic Committee and volleyball competition organized by FIVB,” sabi ni Cantada sa isang press conference.
“LVPI absolutely has no legal personality with its ‘provisional membership’ in the FIVB. Its affiliation in the FIVB was proposed in the General Assembly of the 2018 FIVB World Congress held in Cancun, Mexico, together with the proposal to expel the Philippine Volleyball Federation from its membership from the world body. The GA voted to reject the proposal to exclude PVF and the proposal to affiliate the LVPI was not approved as a two third votes is required,” paliwanag ni Cantada.
Ginawa ni Cantada ang pahayag makaraang matanggap ang sulat na kinikilala ng General Assembly ang PVF bilang lehitimo at legal na volleyball association sa bansa.
Ayon kay Cantada, ang pagkilala sa PVF bilang nag-iisang volleyball association ay isang vindication sa matagal niyang ipinaglaban.
“Finally, we achieved what is right and what is legally ours fair and square. After years of fighting for just cause, finally we saw the light of truth and justice,” dagdag pa ni Cantada.
May 220 kasapi ang FIVB, kasama ang 67 bansa sa Asia na miyembro ng Asian Volleyball Confederation na pinamumunuan ni Saleh Ahmad Bin Nasser ng Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. CLYDE MARIANO
