Gonzaga, Ceballos eye PSL title
Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Ceballos of Cignal will settle for no less than a title when the Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020 fires off next month in Subic.
Ceballos said they have been playing together since high school and their familiarity will serve as their biggest weapon when they take on the best beach volleyball players in the country in a three-day spectacle that would mark the resumption of the league’s coronavirus-hit season. The HD Spikers duo is in for a tough battle. With the league implementing an open format, anybody can join, including Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons as well as other heavyweights like Michelle Morente, Nerissa Bautista, Fritz Gallenero, Patty Jane Orendain, Bang Pineda, DM Demontano, Jackie Estoquia and Dzi Gervacio.
“She was always my partner since we were in high school,” said Ceballos, a regular fixture in commercial beach volleyball tourneys since her high school days at Central Philippine University in Iloilo City.
“I was in fourth year high school and she was already in college. We both need extra income. Competing in various beach volleyball tournaments helped us out.”
Included in the long list of tourneys they figured prominently was the Nestea Beach Volleyball, which they ruled over more prominent players from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2012 and 2013.
They also ruled the Philippine Volleyball Federation Women’s Beach Volleyball National Invitational tournament.
Gonzaga, then, packed her bags for Manila to join the Philippine Army while Ceballos followed suit few years later through Generika-Ayala.
They were reunited last year when the HD Spikers acquired her to boost their firepower at the wing spot.
“I was struggling to adjust at first. But later on, I got used to it, especially playing with my Jovelyn,” Ceballos said, adding that her relationship with Gonzaga is more than that of a teammate.
“She was always there to point out what I need to correct.”
Gonzaga said all their sacrifices during their high school days are now paying off.
“Before, we couldn’t even train in the sand because we have no money,” Gonzaga said.