Chery Tiggo, Eya Laure 'amicably' resolving contract issue ahead of new PVL season

Chery Tiggo and Eya Laure are trying to meet halfway amid a contract issue surrounding the two parties with only a few days left before the 2024-2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) opens curtains on Saturday.

Chery Tiggo team manager Aaron Velez said the camps have yet to reach a definite agreement following reports that Laure terminated her contract with the Crossovers before its actual expiry date.

"Hopefully we can actually resolve this amicably. Of course, we look after also ‘yung welfare ni Eya and hopefully ma-resolve ‘to na we meet halfway, for both parties. Definitely, before the PVL starts we want to resolve this also. Hopefully this week kasi start na ng PVL sa November 9," Velez said on the sidelines of the league's pre-season conference on Monday.

[Hopefully we can actually resolve this amicably. Of course, we look after also the welfare of Eya and hopefully we can resolve this that we meet halfway for both parties. Definitely, before the PVL starts we want to resolve this also. Hopefully this week because the PVL starts on November 9.]

"As mentioned because of the non-disclosure of any contract, I can’t really say the entire clause. Rest assured that it was also read before and it was also discussed."

On the league's part, commissioner Sherwin Malonzo stressed the PVL isn't intervening as it's an 'internal' issue that only the club and Laure can resolve.

Malonzo said once Laure secures her clearance from Chery Tiggo, the former UST standout can suit up for a different team. This is due to Crossovers not having a sister team within the league.

"Meron kasi tayong ginawang rule before na kapag nag-pre-terminate ng contract at lilipat ng sister team, bawal. Kung nag-terminate, ‘yung nag-expire, okay lang pero ‘yung pre-terminate hindi pwede," Malonzo said.

"In the case of Eya, as soon as they resolve ‘yung kanilang dilemma, it depends na."

[We have a rule before that if you pre-terminate the contract and move to a sister team, that's not allowed. In cases of termination, if the contract has expired, that's okay, but pre-terminate is not allowed.]

Malonzo stressed this also applies to all teams, saying a team can add a player to its roster for the upcoming All-Filipino Conference until January 17, given these players are not listed to any team's lineup prior to the contest.

"Not only for Eya kasi there are teams who submitted 10 lang sa lineup kasi may mga mage-expire na contract so under negotiations pa," Malonzo added.

"You cannot remove or change, you can add. And pwede nga ‘yan na if you add today, laro bukas, pwede eh. As long as hindi siya naka-lineup sa ibang team."

[Not only for Eya, because there are teams who submitted only 10 in their lineup because there others whose contracts have expired and are still under negotiations. You cannot remove or change, you can add. And it can be that if you add today, they can play already tomorrow. As long as they're not on the lineup of a different team.]

Meanwhile, Malonzo said veteran setter Alohi Robins-Hardy will still have to go through the draft process after she was announced to be signed by Farm Fresh.

Malonzo said the veteran setter has yet to see action for any PVL club for period 2021 to 2024, making her ineligible to be a direct hire despite previously suiting up for Cignal albeit in a different league.

"Alohi is a good addition to our league sa totoo lang. She’s a good player but because of the regulations that we created early this year, and all the teams know about it naman, you have to have played from 2021 until 2024," Malonzo said.

"‘Pag part ka ng any team, not even laro eh, you’re considered a veteran player so don’t have to go through the draft. But in her case, hindi siya na-lineup eh so she has to go through the draft process where she needs to submit certain documents."

[Alohi is a good addition to our league, in truth. She's a good player but because of the regulations that we created early this year, and all the teams know about it, you have to have played from 2021 until 2024... If you're a part of any team, even if you don't play, you're considered a veteran player so you don't have to go through the draft. But in her case, she was not made part of a lineup so she has to go through the draft process where she needs to submit certain documents.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News