15 varsity spikers vie in King of the Beach

By: 11 years ago

A TOTAL of 15 varsity players from different Cebu City schools have enlisted for the King of the Beach volleyball tournament yesterday at the Philippine Sports Commission beach volleyball court at Fort San Pedro.
The event is also a qualifier for the city’s Philippine National Games team.
PSC designated beach volleyball consultant Eric Lecain, told Cebu Daily News Saturday that from the 15 players, only three will be picked as members of the Cebu City team.
However, he added that he hopes he can get more players from the current participants who will represent different Local Government Units of Cebu for the May 9 PNG.
“We’ll try to get about three to four players from these participants to join team Cebu City. But its much better if we can also send a team each for Mandaue, Lilo-an and other LGUs in Cebu,” Lecain said.
Among those seeing action in the event are Philippine national volleyball team member and former University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars spiker Jonrey Sasing, the 2014 2nd Sinulog King of the Beach champion, Rommel Pepito of Southwestern University, Jade Becaldo of the University of the Visayas, University of Southern Philippines-Foundation’s Edmar Bonono, Edward Ybanez, John Michael Ylanan, Left John Tormis, Jason Gabales, Jerson Owen Belen and USP-F volleyball coach Jorem Yu among others.
Lecain said he hopes he can get the services of USP-F’s Ybanez “because he’s the one with the most complete abilities as a beach volleyball player.”
The Cebu City team is gunning for a three-peat in the 2014 PNG after winning the title the past two years.
Lecain, though, said he isn’t too keen on a Cebu vs Manila battle as he’s more in favor of a nationwide participation in the sport.
“I hope that it will not be another us against Manila. It’s much better that we work as one team for the Philippines including other places in the country. How great would that be,” said Lecain.
The participants were scheduled to play until 11 p.m. yesterday as the tourney started late.
The champion in the three-day meet will receive P4,000 cash, while the 2nd and 3rd placers will take home P2,000 and P1,000, respectively.
The 4th to 8th placers will also receive cash. /Correspondent Jade S. Violeta