MANILA, Philippines – The historic PhilSports Arena will serve as battleground when the Philippine women’s volleyball team seeks to reclaim its old glory in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. president Peter Cayco said the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) formally assigned them at PhilSports Arena, a 10,000-seater gymnasium in Pasig City that stood as witness to lot of glorious moments in Philippine sports.
Initially, the organizing body wanted volleyball to share venue with basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
But the plan was scratched and volleyball was moved to Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao before Alonte Sports Arena in Binan City was considered.
Now, it will be at PhilSports Arena.
And Cayco said they gladly welcome the development.
“Aside from Filoil (Flying V Centre) in San Juan, PhilSports is also the home of Philippine volleyball. We like playing there,” said Cayco, who decided to skip three Asian tourneys so that they can focus on winning the title in the biennial meet set this November.
“A lot of volleyball fans are very familiar with PhilSports Arena. It’s in the center of everything. I’m looking forward to a successful, and victorious, hosting of the SEA Games.”
PhilSports Arena is overflowing with memories.
After serving as home of the Philippine Basketball Association in its golden era from 1980 to 1999, the venue served as cradle of Philippine volleyball as it served as birthplace of the Philippine Superliga in 2013.
It also served as venue of the AVC Asian U23 Women’s Championship — the first-ever international tournament hosted and organized by the LVPI in 2015.
“There’s really a lot of memories in PhilSports Arena,” Cayco said.
“I’m hoping and praying that the next glorious moment that will happen there is having our Philippine Team winning a medal in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 14 years.”