MANILA – Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. (LVPI) is eyeing for the gradual return of volleyball action following the relaxation of community quarantines in most parts of the country.
LVPI president Peter Cayco said that they will submit a position paper to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in hopes that the latter will allow the resumption of some volleyball leagues.
“We are hoping for the best. Pero me personally, I am not that optimistic. It’s more or less kung anuman payagan ng IATF-EID. Basta nakahanda kami sa kanilang parameters at protocols na i-implement. We will abide,” said Cayco.
According to Cayco, he sees late September as the ideal time for the resumption of commercial volleyball, but he cautioned there should be strict protocols in place and that games will not be like the regular ones.
“’Yung mga additional expenses like for sanitation, lahat ‘yan kelangan natin gawin. And another is like sa NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). All coaches, players, game officials, and utility workers should undergo COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) testing muna,” Cayco said.
“Tapos (para) sa mga matches, siguro isang coach at dalawang assistant ay sapat na. Minsan kasi ‘yung iba hanggang eight to nine ang nakaupo sa bench,” he added. “Sa colleges, siguro no audience muna. Mahirap isugal. Isang kaso lang lumabas dyan, mahirap na.”
Cayco also stressed that it will take some time to see volleyball tournaments back in action since coaches said volleyball players need at least three months to get back in shape.
“Assuming games are allowed to start by January, the earliest possible time would be April. But with Holy Week traditions happening at that time, May looms as the earliest possible time to restart,” he added./PN
