CORDOVA, DALAGUETE START HOT
Gov. Davide hopes promising volleyball players in Cebu will get a chance to play in the professional leagues
Cebu’s quest to find volleyball stars has started as the 1st Governor’s Cup Volleyball Tournament kicked off in the Mandaue Cultural and Sports Complex in Mandaue City yesterday.
Hundreds of young volleyball prospects from different towns and cities of Cebu converged in the opening ceremony graced by Gov. Hilario Davide III and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.
Beyond the competition, the volleyball tournament for females 18 and younger looks to find gems in the rough and devel- op young volleyball players.
“Sports unite communities and that’s why we have this kind of event. This will also train athletes from the cities and towns. Hopefully, in the future we can see these players play in the major leagues,” Davide told SunStar Cebu in an interview.
Davide said that the event under the grassroots program of Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) will serve as a training ground for up-and-coming players.
“I thank all the participants for joining this and also the chief executives of the participating cities and towns who have supported our grassroots program,” added Davide.
The opening ceremony was at- tended by 29 teams, the mayors from participating LGUs, sports officials and supporters.
“The opening ceremony was a success. All the 29 teams were here. More than 50 percent of the teams came here with their mayors,” said CPSC executive director Atty. Ramil Abing.
Abing said that Cebu Province has allocated more than P1 million for the tournament, including cash prizes for the winning teams.
The 29 teams are divided into North and South divisions with three brackets for every division. The grand champion will walk away with P300,000 cash; the second placer will get P200,000; and the third placer will get P100,000.
Dalaguete drew first blood in the opening game as it routed Oslob in straight sets, 25-12, 2513, while Cordova also won in straight sets over Poro, Camotes, 25-21, 25-16.
San Francisco, Camotes and Mandaue City were still playing as of press time.
The tournament will be played every weekend, but there will be no games next week to give way to the players who will compete in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Cviraa) in Bohol.
The games will resume on March 11 at Consolacion Municipal Gym. Cordova will face Mandaue City in the first game, while Consolacion will take on Liloan. /