CEBU volleyball fans will be in for a treat next month as UAAP’s Ateneo de Manila University and the Creamline Cool Smashers of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) battle against each other in the 2017 Star and Spikes Invitational Volleyball tournament on Dec. 9 and 10 at the Recoletos Coliseum of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Basak Campus.
Event organizer Dean Wong told reporters in a press conference held at the Golden Prince Hotel and Suites on Saturday afternoon that both teams will play two exhibition games on Dec. 9 at 4:30 p.m. and on Dec. 10 at 3 p.m.
“First we want to uplift the volleyball program here in Cebu that they also can witness players they see in TV,” Wong said.
The two-time UAAP champions Lady Eagles will be bannered by Cebuana Deanna Wong, Jules Samonte, Ana Gopico and Maddie Madayag while the Cool Smashers will be headed by former Lady Eagle Alyssa Valdez, Julia Morado and Pau Soriano.
In addition, the Cool Smashers will also play host to the Barangay Creamline event this Dec. 8, where they will teach the kids advance skills and training about the sport.
Interested participants may register on the Facebook page of the “Creamline Cool Smashers.”
Wong, a Josenian alumni, shared that part of the proceeds of the event will go to the athletes of USJ-R and to the senior citizens of Cebu.
“This is a way to give back to athletes. This is our way of giving back to USJ-R,” Wong said.
Wong added that the newly formed volleyball group here in Cebu named as the United Volleyball Enthusiast of Cebu (UVEC) will be officiating the games.
Ticket prices range from P400 for the VIP, P350 for the Lower Box and P300 for the Upper Box and are sold at the venue four hours before the preliminary game.
Meanwhile, also on December 8 at USJ-R Basak Campus, ADMU men’s team coach Oliver Almadro will be hosting a talk dubbed as the “Coach O’s Tips in Season Game Preparation, Motivation and Ethics” for coaches scheduled from 5pm to 7p.m. Registration fee for Coach Almadro’s talk is pegged at P500.