SUZARA UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED AVC PRESIDENT, 2ND FILIPINO TO HEAD ORGANIZATION IN 45 YRS

BANGKOK—Ramon “Tats” Suzara vowed to seize the opportunity and momentum to the hilt to take the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) to a new era following his election as president of the continental governing body for volleyball here on Friday morning.

Suzara will serve a four-year term as the ninth president and only the second Filipino—after Nemesio Yabut who was president from 1976 to 1979—of the AVC.

“The greatest boost shall be derived from the region’s grand tradition and rich history in volleyball,” Suzara said. “The legacy of inspiring wisdom and nurturing leadership of previous administrations will be carried on, even as the AVC story continues to unfold.”

Suzara earned 48 votes to win by landslide over his lone opponent, Qatar’s Ali Ghanem Al-Kuwari, who had 15 out of the 63 total votes—20 were by proxy and Brunei and Mongolia were a no-show in the 25th AVC General Assembly, Congress and Election at the Grand Fourwings Convention Hotel in the Thai capital.

He succeeded Indonesia’s Rita Sibowo, who headed the organization for the past Olympic cycle from 2020 to 2024.

“I thanked everyone who have trusted me and as president, my work has just begun,” he said.

Suzara was accompanied in the Congress by his Philippine National Volleyball Federation chairman Dr. Arnel Hajan, vice president Ricky Palou and secretary-general Donaldo Caringal.

“Thank you very much my AVC family, to Mr. Ali [Ghanem Al-Kuwari] we will always be family,” he added.

FIVB President Ary Graça and director general Fabio Azevedo witnessed the exercise and later gave Suzara a warm congratulations along with Sibowo.

Suzara’s election came almost a year before a milestone solo hosting by the Philippines of the FIVB Volleyball Men World Championships in September next year.

“He is going to be a good president because Mr. Suzara is very professional for our sport,” Graça said.

Also elected in the AVC were first senior executive vice president Craig Carracher of Australia, executive vice president Mohamed Latheef of Maldives, secretary-general Hugh Graham of Cook Islands, treasurer Marina Tsui of Hong Kong and internal auditor Hasan Alfransiny of Bahrain.