Alas withdrawals, De Brito case rock PNVF
Problems continue to rock the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), with a massive withdrawal of national players from the Alas Pilipinas program coming on the heels of a legal complaint filed by former national coach Jorge Souza de Brito against the association over unpaid salaries and performance bonuses.
The list of those who have withdrawn from the national program includes some of the biggest and brightest names in the sport right now: Team captain and two-time AVC Women’s Cup Best Setter Jia de Guzman, Bella Belen, Maddie Madayag, Vanie Gandler, Justine Jazareno, Eya Laure, Alleiah Malaluan, and Mars Alba, who played in last year’s Southeast Asian Games, all begged off, according to PNVF president Tony Boy Liao.
“We reached out to the old Alas players, and they all said no. The players who competed in the SEA Games also said no,” Liao added. “They said they’re no longer interested in playing. That’s fine.”
Alyssa Solomon, who played in the Japan SV.League, also passed, but said she will play next year. Reigning UAAP MVP Shaina Nitura was also willing to join, but she’s still recovering from an injury.
The development comes as the PNVF continues to deal with the fallout of its current problems with De Brito.
The Olympic gold medalist coach from Brazil is seeking compensation for what he claims are unpaid salaries and performance bonuses from his four-year tenure, including four SEA V.League events and one AVC Cup.
The PNVF’s rejection of De Brito’s request forced the Capital1 mentor to seek legal remedies through the Labor department.
De Brito is the architect of Alas Pilipinas’ rise in the past two years, steering the national team to four bronze medals in the SEA V.League and a runner-up finish in last year’s AVC Women’s Cup.
Wednesday’s mediation
According to his legal counsel, lawyer Enrico Rex Cruz III, the PNVF made it clear it disagrees with De Brito’s money claims after Wednesday’s mediation hearing before the NLRC SENA.
“What’s frustrating is that PNVF said that for the podium finishes, where [De Brito] is entitled to an incentive bonus, they … still have to verify the podium finishes. As if they don’t know it,” said Cruz.
“The Philippine sports federation cannot invite foreign coaches, enter into a contract with them, and ask their help for the development of the national team, and then not fulfill their [federation’s] financial responsibilities. It will not look good in the image of the Philippines.”
Liao said the PNVF is addressing the two major problems, sending out invitations to new players for the national pool and instructing the federation’s legal arm to handle the De Brito issue.
“We are also in favor of an out-of-court settlement, but it seems the other side is not for it,” he told the Inquirer.
