The 11th season of the bigger and grander One Cebu Island Gov. Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball Cup or GUV CUP is finally opened.
This year’s season further highlights genuine grassroots volleyball that has become the breeding ground for volleyball superstars in the country.
Gov. Gwen Garcia, with host Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City and the entire slate of Cebu mayors, led the opening rites of the Cebu-wide volleyball tournament at the Mandaue City Sports Complex earlier today, September 30.
Some 1,680 volleyball players from 120 teams converged at the complex for the opening ceremony which was also attended by lone district of Mandaue Congresswoman Emmarie Ouano-Dizon and Congressman Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s third district.
“Akoy na-inspire ninyo. Grabe ang energy nga akoang nakita,” Gov. Gwen said in her speech, visibly enjoying the company of Cebu’s energetic youth.
This season’s GUV CUP has attracted the biggest participating number of teams in the tournament’s 11-year history. It more than doubled last year’s participation of a respectable number of 48 teams.
Of the 120 teams joining this year, 51 will compete in the 𝟐𝟏-𝐀𝐧𝐝-𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲. The come-backing 𝟐𝟏-𝐀𝐧𝐝-𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲 has registered 47 teams, and 22 teams will compete under the 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬’ 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲 (aged 7 to 12).
The participating teams are representatives of Cebu local government units, including the highly urbanized cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue; as well as the island municipalities from Bantayan and Camotes.
GUV CUP Vice Chairman Glenn Soco led his fellow Board Members in attending the momentous sporting event, as well as Cebu Volleyball Association president Francis Chad Salimbangon.
Aside from honing their skills and learning the importance of hard work, discipline, teamwork, dedication, and excellence; the GUV CUP players are also given an opportunity to form close bonds and friendships with their peers from other places of the province. | BJR