The Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors released an announcement on their social media pages on Wednesday evening that they are begging off from taking part in the continental club tournament citing health and safety concerns.

“We have determined that present local health requirements and regional conditions are not conducive to a safe and healthy competition. The safety and health of our entire delegation are first and primary in our decision,” the statement wrote.

The team also added that players and coaches are still recovering from the hard-fought PVL campaign in the Ilocos Norte bubble.

Moreover, MJ Phillips and Dell Palomata were recently tapped by the Philippine women’s volleyball training pool, which weighed their decision. 

“Also, two of our key players, MJ Phillips and Dell Palomata, are now practicing with the national team. It would be a great disadvantage to play without them,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, with the top five teams begged off from the invite, Tonyboy Liao, head of the National Teams Commission, said PNVF would likely just send the national women’s team. 

“I think no Club team will be interested. The Top 5 teams declined & Perlas. I think Army and Balipure will have no money to join. The team will be needing to pay for air tickets, $60 per person per day for hotel & $900 entry fee. That’s about P500,000,” Liao averred.

Last Friday, the Philippine women’s volleyball roster broke camp in Batangas after the AVC Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship scheduled on August 29 to September 5 was postponed to next year, confirmed Liao. 

Liao added that the women’s national team will continue their preparations in another training camp either in Subic or Pampanga.