Open volleyball tournament aimed at boosting sports tourism program

In the hopes of bolstering its sports tourism program, the Cebu City Sports Commission and the Cebu City government will hold a volleyball tournament dubbed Cebu City Mayor’s Cup Volleyball Open Tournament 2018 on May 6 to 16 at the University of San Carlos (USC) Main gymnasium in Sanciangko Street, Cebu City.

According to Cebu City Councilor and Youth and Sports Development chairman Jerry Guardo, the tournament, which will have men’s and women’s competition, aims to promote sports tourism in Cebu.

“We really want Cebu to be the venue of sports tourism,” he said in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Grand Hotel in Escario Street, Cebu City.

Guardo also said he expects intense action in the tournament, especially since there will be teams from Manila joining.

“We have seen so many action during the Cesafi. But this will be more competitive because teams have reinforced their lineups,” Guardo added.

Teams competing in the men’s division are the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma, USC, University of Cebu (UC), Techno Hammers, University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), Cebrus, Cebu Province, 8×8, and Good Harvest, which is a visiting team from Manila.

In the women’s division, the teams are SWU-Phinma, USPF, South Spikers, Cebu Spikers Volleyball Club (CSVC), SC Poncas, USJ-R, USC, UC, Mandaue, and Manila’s Makati Gospel Church- New Life Christian Academy (MGC-NLCA).

For some of the coaches who were present in the press conference yesterday, this tournament is also a huge boost for local volleyball and a good avenue for some teams to get the needed exposure.

“This competition is very exciting. It brings bright new things for the participants and also a good way to promote the sport,” said Cebu Province assistant coach Paul Delgado.

Vanessa Rañeses, the head coach of MGC-NLCA, has a team that is composed of young spikers but she said they have what it takes to compete against the locals. “My players are actually high school students but the way they play is on a collegiate level already,” she said.

According to tournament director Jordan Paca, the competition will be following a round robin format. The top four teams after the elimination round will then advance to the crossover semifinals. Winners in the semis will face each other in the championship round.

Champions of each division will take home P30,000. Second placers get P20,000 while third placers will receive P10,000.

The tournament opens with a game between 8×8 and USPF at 9 a.m. Techno Hammer takes on SWU next followed by a game between USJ-R and Cebu Province. All morning games are for the men’s division. The afternoon games will be for the women’s division. USPF takes on SC Poncas at 3 p.m. while USC faces USJ-R at 5 p.m.