PVL to uphold reported Chery Tiggo non-compete clause amid Eya Laure release bid

MANILA, Philippines – The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is taking a hands-off approach on the issues concerning Chery Tiggo star spiker Eya Laure’s contract and impending termination, saying that as of the moment, it is a matter concerning only the player and her mother team.

After the 2024-25 All-Filipino press conference on Monday, November 4, newly-reassigned PVL control committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo addressed the looming breakup between the two parties and the reported one-year non-compete clause that comes along with it.

“At this point, we don’t have any regulations against that. It is a contract between Chery Tiggo and Eya that we’re not privy to,” said the executive. “We’re not touching that area just yet.”

“It might affect the regulations we’re developing, but at the end of the day, contract negotiations are just between the player and the team.”

Whispers and reports of Laure’s exit started to form a few weeks before the start of the six-month All-Filipino tilt, coinciding with the same time Chery Tiggo formally announced the departure of libero Buding Duremdes and Eya’s older sister EJ.

Aiming to ‘meet halfway’ in contract issue

Any mention of the younger Laure was conspicuously absent from the official report and Chery Tiggo did not address the situation until Monday afternoon, when team manager and former Crossovers champion coach Aaron Velez finally gave the first public remarks of any team official.

“Our status right now for Eya Laure is it’s still under negotiation. Hopefully we could actually resolve this amicably,” he said. “Of course we look after Eya’s welfare also and hopefully we resolve it by meeting halfway for both parties.”

Understandably mum on specific details of the said negotiation, Velez nonetheless admitted that a breakup is indeed in play and that both sides are currently not yet bound by a mutual understanding of the situation.

“I can’t really say that it is a mutual thing because like with any breakup, there are always complicated hurdles, but hopefully we do resolve this properly,” continued Velez, who added that Laure’s contract was properly read out and discussed with her camp.

“Definitely before the [new] PVL [conference] starts, we want to resolve this also. This week most likely, because the PVL starts November 9, so hopefully, before that, we already come to an agreement.”

Aside from the rumored non-compete clause, monetary contract buyout figures are also possible points of contention, since Laure most likely signed a multi-year deal that has only gone on for a little over a year as of posting.

Should Chery Tiggo stay true to its word and resolve the issue in around five days’ time, the non-compete clause – if it indeed exists – may still be scrapped on the behest of top team officials. – Rappler.com