By Edwin Rollon
New guard—or the return of an old one—in Philippine volleyball?
In a surprising twist that reshapes the country’s volleyball landscape, the members unanimously elected longtime sports figure Anthony “Tony Boy” Liao as the new president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), replacing incumbent chief Ramon “Tatz” Suzara.
The results defied expectations. Suzara—credited for elevating Philippine volleyball on the global stage and widely projected to secure a second term — was voted out after four years at the helm. He first assumed office in 2021 in a Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)-supervised election that ended years of internal conflict between the former Philippine Volleyball Federation led by the late Tito Boy Cantada and rival groups. Cantada’s group boycotted the election and argued for an internal resolution of the dispute.
Under Suzara, the Philippines strengthened ties with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). They hosted several major international events, including the recent World Men’s Volleyball Championship, boosting the country’s presence on the world volleyball map.
But tensions ran high entering Friday’s long-delayed polls at The Vault restaurant in Bonifacio Global City.
“Medyo mataas ang tension dahil maraming questions sa membership, but in the end, after five hours, na-resolve at nagkaroon ng mga kasunduan,” said a board member who requested anonymity.
All 48 PNVF stakeholders convened and eventually elected 13 members to the new board.
Liao, a veteran volleyball official whose service dates back to the era of former PVF president and Negros Occidental governor Cocoy Chavez, will now lead a board dominated by personalities from the old PVF bloc. The elected officers include: Dr. Arnel Hajan, Chairman; Yul Benoza, Vice President; Dr. Otie Camangian, Secretary General; Ricky Palou, Treasurer; and Roger Banzuela, Auditor.
Also named to the 13-member board were Maria Socorro Calleja, Fr. Vic Calvo, Charo Soriano, Edward Lee, Danilo Cong-o, Sherwin Maganda, and Miko Vargas.
Suzara, a central figure in the rise of the Shakey’s V-League—now the Premier Volleyball League, the country’s first professional volleyball league—bows out after a term marked by the rapid internationalization of the sport.
Liao, who also served as team manager for the volleyball programs of De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University, vowed to continue strengthening the national teams, expanding professional leagues, and deepening grassroots development nationwide as he begins his new term at the helm of the PNVF.
