CEBU, Philippines – Everything is already in place for the championship leg of the 1st Governor Gwen Garcia Airsoft Open Championships on July 25-26 at the Prime Orion Properties beside the Cebu Doctors' University in Mandaue City.
“Airsoft enthusiasts and spectators should not miss the inaugural airsoft championships. This is something really big that has not yet been done since the history of the airsoft,” said Paulo Garcia, the event's chief executive for operations, in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Session Hall.
Garcia revealed that in the opening ceremony, her mother Governor Gwen Garcia will be riding a simba (an armored personnel carrier) and a V-150 that will transport her into a 30-feet tower. The governor will then zip line from the tower towards the five-foot block located at the other side.
“I am proud to announce that the GUV Cup Airsoft Open is the biggest event in the country in terms of regularity and attendance,” Garcia said.
“The players are not aiming for the prize but for honor and prestige. We are just here to play and to have fun and at the same time, we are all working together to make Cebu as the airsoft capital of the Philippines,” Garcia added.
Tracing back time, airsoft really started in Cebu in the late 80s with GUV CUP Airsoft Open Chairman Deo Cerna as one of the pioneering players. At present, there are already 6,000 airsoft players in the province.
The two-day combat features 16 teams that qualified from the previous five legs staged in Mandaue, Moalboal, Balamban, San Remigio and Argao.
The contending squads are the Guadalupe Airsoft Team (GAT), Mandaue Airsoft Group (MAG), Crack Legion, Special Airsoft Action Team (SAAT), Hammerhead, Philippine Airsoft Club of Mactan (PACMAN), Globus-Petron Alliance, Southern Cebu Airsoft Recon (SCAR), Toledo Airsoft Group (TAG), Extreme Airsoft Games Enthusiast (X-Age), Bogo Team Cobra (BTC), Tango Down, Badian Airsoft Team (BAT), West Rasmussen Team (WRT), Alex Binghay Commando (ASB Commando) and the Team Airsoft San Carlos (TASC) of Negros Occidental.
The champion will receive the coveted GUV Cup inaugural cup, while the second and third placers will take home trophies.
Special awards will also be given away including the Best Stealth Operative, Best in Sportsmanship, Best in CQB Team and Best in Military Load-Out.
The event is supported by QBC Sporting Supply, San Miguel Inc., ABN Dream Works, Sulpicio Lines, VECO, Habagat Outdoor Equipment, Pacific Audio Video Inc., Justins Hobby Depot, Audio One, Pyroworks, GGC Service Inc., Sheen Trade, RC Ramos Construction, Cebu RC Heli Club, and JCI-Metro Cebu. — Marigold P. Lebumfacil (THE FREEMAN)