ATENEO'S LIAO ON DLSU LADY SPIKERS V-LEAGUE ISSUE: "TALAGANG COMMON SENSE!"

Sports Vision Management Tournament Commissioner Tony Boy Liao said on Tuesday during Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum in Manila, that De La Salle University Lady Spikers’ assertions on the “no formal invitation” issues in the Shakey’s V-league was “common sense”.

The issue has something to do with the reports that Lady Spikers head coach Ramil De Jesus affirmations’ that the DLSU didn’t receive (really) any letter of invitation from the Sports Vision, in contradict to the latter statement that they did invite the team.

According to Liao, maybe De Jesus was just reasoning out because most of its players are still recovering from the injuries they suffered from the recent UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament last March.

“Talagang common sense na text message. Yung lalaki nila sumali, bakit yung babae hindi? So, yun na nga yun. Ah, siguro the reason also ayaw nilang sumali dahil nga ang daming injuries eh. Si (Mika) Esperanza injured, si (Ara) Galang still injured, si (Camille) Cruz, lately itong si Denise Cheng injures. Siguro gumagawa lang ng ibang reasons, kaya ayaw nilang sumali. Because of the injuries also.” Said Liao.

Additionally, Liao told PTV Sports that he used to serve the Taft-based squad as team manager for five years and have worked with De Jesus before, while saying he knows De Jesus very well and maybe it’s his (De Jesus) strategy to give Lady Spikers exposures by joining shorter and easier volleyball tournaments.

“Mas kilala ko siya (Ramil de Jesus). Kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun yung ginagawa niya. Baka siguro mas gusto niyang sumali sa mga liga na madali, para manalo like PNG (Philippine National Games), Intercollegiate (Volleyball leagues).” Said Liao.

But despite the misunderstanding of the two groups, the opening of the 12th Shakey’s V-league Collegiate Conference will still take place on Saturday at the San Juan Arena, with or without the Lady Spikers.