CEVA mulls forming Cebu volleyball team

After a successful staging of the 1st Governor Garcia Unity Volleyball Cup, Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) is mulling for a selection team to represent Cebu in national tournaments.

CEVA president Glenn Soco said one of the aims of the three-month long tournament, which attracted around 45 municipalities in the province, is to field a Cebu province selection that would compete in national competitions.

"We are hoping to send a selection team in tournaments like Shakey's Village so that we will also gain national exposure and to put them in a higher level of competition," said Soco.

Soco said they are also planning to tap former volleyball standout and Cebu Hall of Famer Thelma Barina to train and form the selection team.

Barina played with Carcar during the tournament which culminated last Tuesday with Lapu-Lapu City bagging the P100,000 prize after beating Toledo City twice in a thrilling championship battle.

While the tournament somehow brought fun and unity, which is the goal of the governor, it has also open opportunities for potential players who can not afford to go to school to land scholarship programs in the different schools.

"We already saw good players but it's still up to them on what school they would choose," said Jordan Paca, one of the official's and coach of University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

Soco said the governor has aired out her satisfaction about the outcome of the tournament and hopes to make it as a yearly competition.

"So we encouraged other teams to train and adapt a volleyball programs and hopefully they can join us next year," said Soco.