Cebu - The Cebu selection, manned by a slew of Cebu’s best spikers, will leave today for Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental to strut their wares in the 4th Annual Kinoguitan Volleyball Open 2009 Fiesta Cup.
Though a strong title contender, the Cebuano mainstays are expected to face rough sailing against defending champion Foundation University (FU) of Dumaguete City and some of the country’s top volleyvall teams from the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, and Davao.
The Cebu selection is comprised of decorated players that include Jonrey Sasing, Angellan Visoc, Clifford Café, Joreem Yu and James Ryan Rivera of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), and Edward Carlo Teson, Kennith Bensig Rivera, and 1st Kinoguitan Open MVP Roderick Arenasa of the University of San Carlos (USC).
Champion coach Norvie “Making” Labuga of USC will serve as playing coach. He will be assisted by Dave Ariza of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).
“I have higher hopes for this team. I have these players played in the different tournaments here in Cebu and outside and they’ve excelled in the different competitions that they participated,” said Gerardo “Dodong Gamay” Frasco Jr., one of the team’s corporate sponsors.
Frasco has given his full support to the team as he would like to help in the promotion of volleyball.
Aside from trophies and medals, the champion will receive P45,000, while the second and third will take gome P25,000 and P15,000. The fourth placer will get P5,000.
Aside from the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF), Team Cebu is supported by Titay’s Liloan Rosquillos & Delicacies Inc., Philippine Sports Commission, Port Seafood Restaurant, Hon. Danny Lim, Atty. Dionisio “Dionnie” Cañete, and Dindo Salon X’clusive. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil (THE FREEMAN)