ILOILO City – Volleyball action is returning to this city’s annual Dinagyang Festival by way of the 2023 Volleyball League from Jan. 12 and 15 at the Jaro Gym, Fundidor Gym and YMCA Gym here.
According to Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go Villaruz, the three-day volleyball tournament will have four divisions – women’s open, girls 18-under, men’s open, and boys 18-under.
“This is not an exclusive tournament for Iloilo City-based teams. There are squads from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Metro Manila, Antique, and Aklan,” Villaruz said.
Bacolod Tay Tung High School leads the women’s open teams along with University of San Agustin, Central Philippine University seniors team and juniors team, JJB-Santa Barbara, Dr. Jack, A and T Acers, Immaculada Concepcion College, Quinto BIBO players, and Kings Montessori School (for confirmation).
Playing in the girls’ 18-under category are Bacolod Tay Tung High School, Iloilo City Sports Academy, St. John’s Institute-Bacolod, Trinity Christian School, Pontevedra Fire Antz, Ateneo de Iloilo, Silay City, Pototan, A and T Acers, La Paz National High School, and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (for confirmation).
Participating teams in men’s open are Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Philippine National Police, Tarag, CPU, University of San Agustin, Zarraga, Team G, Silay City, WVCST, VIBOYZ, and Ateneo de Cebu – Sacred Heart School.
Playing in the boys’ 18-Under are Aklan Catholic College, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, JR. Tigers, Taft Eatery, Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, Team Loyal of Silay, Himamaylan City, Cabanatuan Ignites, Livingstones, Zarraga, San Miguel, CPU, Antique, Icons and G. Panes Construction.
Villaruz said the squads for each category will be divided into two groups with the top two finishers per group advancing to crossover semifinals. The semifinals winners will then move on to the championship round.
“We are thankful to the local government unit of Iloilo City for making this possible,” Villaruz said. “This is a welcome event as we failed to have a Dinagyang volleyball tournament during the pandemic period.”
“We expect each division to be competitive as we see the participating teams forming their best team possible to give entertainment to Ilonggo volleyball fans come Dinagyang,” he added./PN
