SIXTEEN teams from different cities in Negros Occidental are set to compete in the Premier Volleyball League Youth Festival starting today at the St. John Institute in Bacolod City.
The first-ever girls under-12 tournament is part of the festivities for the upcoming PVL Open Conference doubleheader in the City of Smiles on Oct. 13 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum.
Among the teams joining are Pulupandan, San Carlos, Bago City and Silay as well as Bacolod-based schools University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, Bacolod Tay Tung High School, St. John Institute, and Bago.
The Youth Festival is a provincial-wide effort of PVL to give more opportunity for the young to get access to competitive games.
“This aims to grow the local talent pool for volleyball and create an avenue for the young to play,” said PVL Bacolod City games organizer Bea Tan.
Defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers will take on Petro Gazz Angels in a rematch of the Reinforced Conference championship at 4 p.m., right after Pacifictown-Army Lady Troopers and BanKo-Perlas Lady Spikers take the floor at 2 p.m.
Also in tap is a coaching seminar on Oct. 11-12, as well as mall visits by PetroGazz, Pacifictown-Army and Creamline at the Ayala Capitol, and a welcome dinner at NGC Bacolod on Oct 12.
A long-time promoter of volleyball in the different areas of the country, organizing GRID Athletic Sports is bringing to the people of Negros exciting PVL volleyball games for them to watch thrilling and action-packed games between the league’s powerhouses live in time for the MassKara Festival.
In partnership with PVL, GRID Athletic Sports will also conduct several other activities to strengthen the volleyball program locally such as coaching seminars, grassroots volleyball workshop and motivational guest speaking from volleyball athletes.
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The Lopue’s Table Tennis Association headed by Dr. Leonito “Diotay” Lopue finished silver medal in the Women’s Open team event in the recently-staged 28th Jawad Cup in Cebu City.
In the finals, LOPTTA coach Marell Lagunday fell to Sherlyn Love Gabisay of the eventual champions University of Sto. Tomas, 2-3.
Meanwhile, the tandem o Micah Tanate and Mariella Mabaqiauo were swept by UST’s Leigh Erika Villanueva and Faith Digamon, 3-0. Also part of the LOPTTA team is Angeli Bayang.
Lagunday also settled for bronze in the Women Singles after defeated by Gabisay in the semifinals, 2-3.
Tanate, on the other hand, also shone in in the 18 Under Girls and Santiago Salimbuga made name for himself in the Men’s Executive./PN
