Wilson Philippines held a three-day 1st Wilson Visayas Olympics, which started on Friday evening and will end on Sunday over at the Iloilo Sports Complex Gymnasium in Iloilo City.
Tournament director Anthony Surabella said that three sports were on tap for the qualifiers namely 3×3 basketball, volleyball and tennis and was open to elementary and high school teams in Region 6.
The winners of the three-day tournament will represent the Western Visayas in the Wilson Philippines National Finals slated on May 10 in Manila.
“This is a great opportunity for the Western Visayas students athletes to show their talents – and if they qualify in the National Finals – a chance to compete with student athletes from around the country,” Surabella said.
“It is also an opportunity for them to be discovered by the scouts in Manila and possibly land a scholarship with prestigious schools in the big city,” he added. “So I am sure each athlete will bring their A game here in Visayas Olympics.”
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For imports Lindsay Stalzer and Maria Jose Perez of F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, their victory over Petron in Game 1 of their Philippine Superliga Grand Prix best-of-three finals series is more than just a big feather on their caps. It is also a sweet revenge.
Stalzer admitted that they prepared long and hard to set the stage for arguably the biggest upset in league history, where they defeated the Blaze Spikers, 25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 25-23, in the opener of their finals showdown late Tuesday.
Stalzer said the victory was a vindication after the Blaze Spikers did not renew her and opted to sign super imports Stephanie Niemer and Katherine Bell in the off-season despite her leading them to the Grand Prix title last year.
“I feel really good,” said Stalzer shortly after becoming the first team to tarnish Petron’s immaculate 17-0 mark. “This team (Petron) had really grown throughout the season and it’s always nice to beat the team that you used to play for.”
“It has been on my mind (beating Petron Blaze Spikers) since I came over,” she added. “But during the game, I’m just focused on getting the win.”
Perez, who led the Cargo Movers to a dramatic come-from-behind win in 2017, suffered massive heartache after Stalzer, Hillary Hurley and the rest of the Blaze Spikers knocked the crown of their heads the following year.
This is her third finals battle against the Blaze Spikers and Perez admitted that she wants to make sure that the crown they used to have will be recovered.
“This is my third finals against Petron and I’m really motivated to get the win because this is the reason why I decided to come over,” said Perez, a member of the Venezuelan national women’s volleyball team.
“But we all know that this is just the first game and we know Petron is capable of striking back so we have to be ready,” she added. “We are working point by point, set by set. Just enjoy the process and the result is going to come.”
The Blaze Spikers and Cargo Movers are clashing one last time tonight in the do-or-die Game 3 of the Grand Prix best-of-three championship series at the San Juan Arena./PN
