ILOILO City – Volleyball tournaments return to Iloilo with the Gametime Invitational Men’s and Women’s Volleyball League later this month in Pavia, Iloilo.
According to Ilonggo sportman Rodolfo Go Villaruz, there will be 10 teams each competing in the men’s and women’s tournaments from Dec. 23 to Jan. 23.
The 10 squads will then be divided into two groups and will play among each other. The top two teams per group will advance to the crossover semifinals and the two winners in the Final Four to the finale.
“Ilonggo volleyball players are very delighted and excited since it’s almost a year and a half since they played competitive volleyball due to the pandemic,” Villaruz told Panay News on Friday.
He added: “We at Gametime really pushed for this and we are thankful to the LGU (local government unit) of Pavia for giving us a go signal to conduct this tournament.”
Among the notable Ilonggas seeing action are Premier Volleyball League veterans Jeannie De Los Reyes and Glaudine Trongcoso, beach volley partners DM Demontaño and Jackie Estoquia of Sta Lucia, and UAAP players Princess Robles and Chrisann Susbilla.
Local varsity players in Nestle Gonzales, Kaye Cortez, Dam Pamplona, Eunice Piosca, Eunoo Guevarra, Princess Pido and Roslyn Dusaran will also play.
In the men’s division, among the notable player so far is Far Eastern University Tamaraws’ Peter Quiel who will banner the powerhouse Team Dumangas of head coach Ernie Bayogos.
Tournament commissioner Moises Salomon said this first organized volleyball league in Iloilo during the COVID-19 pandemic era aims to showcase Iloilo’s brand of volleyball and also to send a message of hope.
“Makita naton ang mga present and former varsity players. For sure the games will be exciting. But as we are raring to see them in action, let us not forget the safety protocols that we are going to issue soonest,” Salomon said./PN
