LVPI forms national pool to represent the country in int’l competitions

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) will soon form a national pool to keep the members focused on representing the country in international competitions.

The players who are included in the pool will be restricted from playing too many tournaments other than those where they represent their respective schools.

LVPI vice president Peter Cayco talked about the plan hatched by the LVPI board on Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

“We noticed that during the last SEA Games, our players were already burned out because of too many tournaments prior to the SEA Games,” said Cayco.

“Some of them nursed injuries,” added Cayco, who was joined at the forum by LVPI coaches commission chairman Atty. Ramon Malinao and coach Louie Hugo.

Since the players have multiple teams to play for, Cayco noted they [players] spend so much time on the court, practicing twice a day with barely little time to rest.

“Burned out,” said Cayco in the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Shakey’s, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

“When they join the national pool, they will only play for their schools and then the national team will be their club,” Cayco said.

The LVPI will look for additional sponsors so the players in the national pool can enjoy benefits as if they are playing for club teams.

“It will not be a big income but at least you’re playing for the country,” Cayco added.

LVPI president Jose Romasanta said the plan is patterned after the cadet program of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas, which has a pool of players.

“The quality of performance of our players suffer when they are over-exposed. Based on experience in the SEA Games, some of them got there with injuries,” said Romasanta.

“They play in too many tournaments, including guest appearances in beach volley tournaments when they are not beach volley players,” he said.

Romasanta added that the Philippine Super Liga has vowed its support to the LVPI in forming the national pool.