Two major events for Cebu volleyball

CEBU, Philippines - Here are two events that the Cebu volleyball community can look forward to an international tournament and a national training camp.

Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) chairman Glenn Anthony Soco had initial talks with Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) president Gener Dungo about the two events.

CEVA is requesting for the FIVB Men’s Championship or the Grand Prix Women’s Volleyball Championship and according to Dungo, he will still reconcile some matters with FIVB before he will finalize the staging of the tournament, but he acknowledged Cebu to be the host.

Aside from that, they also discussed about organizing a training camp here in Cebu catering to players from the Visayas and Mindanao.

“This will be the venue for outstanding volleyball talents to have greater chances to form part of the national team,” said Soco.

He also proposed including those players from the province or in the city who would like to be trained as well in order to improve and enhance their skills.

PVF will be sending their highly competent trainers who will be collaborating with the local trainers.

“These activities (the hosting of an international tournament and the national training camp) were already in the pipeline for the year. We are just waiting for the PVF, to give us the go signal,” he said.

Gov. Gwen Garcia already pledged her support to the idea to host an international tournament here since volleyball is her priority sport.

To recall, Cebu already hosted an international event in 2005 with the Asian Youth Volleyball Games and in 2004 with the FIVB Men’s Championship.

Guv Cup update

Soco also said that the 7th Gov. Gwendolyn F. Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup will still have the men’s and women’s divisions on top of the children’s category that will be introduced.

“The GUV Cup is always an ever evolving tournament. Two years ago there was a clamor for a men’s division. Now with the wide growing participation of the elementary students and out of school youth who belong to that age range, it’s time to expose them,” said Soco.

The executive committee will still have to discuss the details.

The inspiration of including the children’s division is the Catmon Team, which already got four championship titles in the Palarong Pambansa.

“The team only proved that they have sustainable program and we would like to replicate it to other towns here in Cebu in order to boost the pool of players that we have and that the coaches and schools will have a lot of choices,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Extensive-Governor Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (E-GUV) is working well as the local government units already conducted their local volleyball competitions and also conducted grassroots training.

Soco said that the initial talks that they had with Dungo are already steps of acknowledging Cebu as the Volleyball Capital of the Philippines.

“It is very appropriate because we have a strong support from our local government units, with the 90 to 100% participation in the GUV Cup as a proof. Volleyball is already in the veins of the Cebuanos,” Soco said. (FREEMAN)