Grand exit for queen of Grand Prix

This could be her final visit to the Philippines. And she wants to make it the most memorable.

Five years after first winning the hearts of Filipino sports fans, Brazilian beauty Leila Barros is back in the country for the third leg of this year’s World Grand Prix women’s volleyball. She’s once again expected to whip up a storm the way she did during her first two visits here.

Now 32 but still as beautiful as ever, Leila is playing probably her final Grand Prix, leading to a farewell performance in the Olympics where Brazil is the only South American country to make it on the women’s side in Athens, Greece next month. She’s a veteran of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, too.

In yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion, Leila was warmly received, towing a horde of photographers as she made her way inside the venue with her trainer Carlos Bizzochi and a couple more representatives of the other competing teams here—Korea, Poland and the Dominican Republic.

But as she prepared to take her seat at the head table, Leila clipped her nose with her left hand, apparently bothered by the cigarette smoke that spoiled the air. After it was put off, she regained her dimpled smile then started fielding questions through an interpreter who had problems with his English as well.

"I missed the Philippines. I like the people here and their trademark is they’re so kind. I like playing in all of Asia but I like the Philippines most," she said.

Everybody listened as the 5-foot-9 beauty spoke in Portuguese.

Saying she’s not getting any younger, Leila hinted that this could be her last visit to the Philippines and that she hoped to once again give her best when the three-day competition unfolds this Friday at the Philsports Arena. This could be the last chance for her fans to see her in action.

"I’m already thirty-two that’s why I’m not sure if I’ll ever return here again," she said. The first time she was here in 1999, Leila was an instant hit among Filipino sports fans.

With her sexy looks and a mean, power-packed game, she created a "Leila Mania" that grew even bigger the second time she visited the country the following year.

Movie offers came during her second visit which ended in a tearful, centercourt farewell. But she had to turn down the offers due to a knee injury she suffered in action.

And if they come again?

"I’m not an actress, you know. I’m just a player. But if there’s another possibility, I would think about it," said Leila, who, after the Sydney Olympics, played one more year with the Brazilian league. After a one-and-a-half-year stint in beach volleyball came semi-retirement.

"I only returned for this Grand Prix and Olympics. And I’m happy to play with old friends," said Leila who’ll turn 33 on Sept. 30.

Asked about her civil status, Leila broke into laughter, then answered.

"I’m not yet married," she said. "But I have a boyfriend, Emmanuel. He’s one of the world’s top-ranked players in beach volleyball. He’s not here with me. He’s in Portugal.