Frank Lao Takes Over PNVF as Philippine Volleyball Resets

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Frank Lao officially took over as president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Monday, ushering in a fresh start for the sport after months of turmoil under FIVB suspension. The election, held at the Solaire Theater Southlinks Boardroom 2M, closed out a caretaker period led by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and set the stage for a new chapter in Philippine volleyball governance.

POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino welcomed the incoming board, expressing confidence that the federation’s progress would continue under the new leadership. “This is a ‘committed team’ and I believe they could sustain the progress of volleyball that started when the PNVF was established in 2021,” Tolentino said.

POC president Abraham Tolentino and secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan with volleyball officials. [photo: POC]

A Fresh Board for a Federation in Reset Mode

Elected alongside Lao were Atty. Donn Kapunan as vice president, Rommel Ng as treasurer, and POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton as auditor. The board of trustees is composed of Sienna Olaso, Francis Chad Salimbangon, Carmela Gamboa, Rustico Camangian, Mohamad Bernan Jr., and Jonas Cabochan.

Also joining the board is Asian Volleyball Confederation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the PNVF’s first-ever president, while Donaldo Caringal was appointed secretary-general. Two more seats on the 13-member board — set aside for male and female representatives from the athletes’ commission — will be announced soon.

With the new board in place, the POC has formally relinquished its role as “caretaker” of the federation, a responsibility handed to it by the FIVB after the world governing body suspended the previous PNVF officers on November 21 last year over poor governance.

FIVB Certification Signals a Clean Slate

To ensure the reset was legitimate in the eyes of international volleyball, the FIVB appointed Ad Hoc Committee chair Hila Asanuma of Palau and FIVB External Legal Consultant Atty. Alexa Monica Dabao to witness and certify the election proceedings.

Tolentino also confirmed that despite the change in leadership, the Alas Pilipinas Men’s and Women’s teams — formed under POC supervision during the suspension for the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games — will remain intact as the federation moves forward.