Volley-gays vie in Quezon City Pride Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Gay power takes center stage this weekend when the first Quezon City Pride Volleyball Cup gets going at the Amoranto Stadium.

Twelve teams made up of the strongest  volleyball players from the LGBT community will display their skills in the two-day event presented by Sports Core and staged to promote gender equality in sports.

Councilor Mayen Juico, chairman of Quezon City’s committee on women, family relation and gender equality, said they are looking forward to a highly-successful event, especially with a lot of members of the gay community expressing their interest to compete for pride, glory and prestige.

“Since Quezon City is the only LGU (local government unit) which has a committee focused on gender equality, we realized that it’s only fitting to join hands with Sports Core in organizing a tournament like this,” Juico said. 

“We’re looking forward to a very successful and fun-filled event. I’m sure everybody will enjoy,” added Juico.

Sports Core president Ramon Suzara, also the president of the Philippine Superliga, said the field will be divided into two groups that will compete in a single-round pool play on Saturday.

The survivors in the pool play will clash in a knockout semifinals and the finals on Sunday.

“This event is the first of its kind in the Philippines,” said Suzara, also a ranking executive of the Asian Volleyball Federation and International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). “This is in line with the league’s commitment to promote gender equality because volleyball is for everybody to enjoy regardless of one’s age, race or sexual preference.”

Sports Core chairman Philip Ella Juico added that by organizing a tournament like this, they are opening the doors of volleybal  for members of the third sex while widening the fan base of the PSL.

“We are all equal,” he said.

“We should always remember that the beautiful game of volleyball is for all and not just for select few. We will not be surprised if this event evolves into a more serious, annual tournament in the future.” 

Expected to compete are Team Braganza, Competitive Volleyball Group, Sesahood, IEM A and IEM B.