MANILA, Philippines – The Farm Fresh Foxies made a last-ditch appeal to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) to allow setter Alohi Robins-Hardy to play, just a couple of days before the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference kicks off this Saturday, November 9.
Team owner Frank Lao said he and Ricky Palou, chief of PVL organizer Sports Vision, had a “gentleman’s agreement” allowing the Filipino-American to play in the league as long as she produces a Philippine passport.
“[To my] surprise, Palou suddenly had a change of heart, saying that Robins-Hardy will not be allowed to compete unless she joins the PVL draft next year,” Lao said in a statement released to the media on Thursday, November 7.
“Subsequently last month, Palou sat down in a meeting with Strong Group Athletics (SGA) executives to admit his ‘oversight’ regarding Robins-Hardy’s eligibility status,” he added.
League commissioner Sherwin Malonzo previously said Robins-Hardy is ineligible to play since she wasn’t able to see action when the league transitioned to a professional status in 2021, thus requiring her to go through the draft process.
Malonzo told Rappler he could not comment on the alleged verbal agreement between Lao and Palou since the league has “no knowledge” of the matter.
“I’m shocked, maybe a little disappointed, but I’m taking it with a grain of salt,” Robins-Hardy said.
“I’m from Hawaii, I’m a little laidback, I’m not really stressed, but I feel for these guys, the management, and the team.”
A cousin of Gilas Pilipinas stalwart Gabe Norwood, Robins-Hardy previously played in the defunct Philippine Superliga (PSL) with Cocolife and Cignal before the pandemic.
She was named Best Setter in the 2019 PSL All-Filipino Conference, and won a bronze medal with Team Philippines in the Nakhon Ratchasima leg of the 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix.
In a press conference in San Juan on Thursday, Robins-Hardy showed her new Philippine passport, saying she already obtained the proper documentation — making it easier for her to suit up for Alas Pilipinas, the national women’s volleyball team, if called.
Farm Fresh officials also showed a letter of “no objection,” showing that five out of the 11 other teams agreed for the Foxies to scoop up Robins-Hardy without going through the draft.
Atty. Donn Kapunan, team legal counsel, however, clarifies that the team is not pursuing legal action, despite feeling slighted on the matter.
Robins-Hardy said she also harbors no ill will, but hopes to bring her talent back to the floor soon. – Rappler.com