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[av_heading heading=’BUZZER BEATER | Bacolod as a volleyball hotbed?’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, May 28, 2017
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WHILE it is known as one of the producers of good football players in the country, Bacolod City could also soon be known as a hotbed of volleyball players for collegiate schools in Manila.
Bacolod City councilor Ricardo Tan said he believes that volleyball could be the city’s other sport with a number of mini tournaments being held there, including the 3rd JGM Finance Corporation U17 Volleyball Tournament recently.
“With all the efforts being shown by way of small tournaments, we could be the next home of volleyball champions,” Tan said in his speech during the opening of the tournament recently.
A number of volleyball players in Manila are from the city namely Bernadeth Pons of the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, Bea Tan of the Perlas Lady Spikers, Fille Cainglet-Cayetano of Pocari Sweat and national team member Genevieve Casugod.
Tan also lauded JGM president Jose Montalbo for his continued support for volleyball, which is now fast emerging as the country’s second “national sport” next to basketball.
“I believe that (Montalbo)’s sponsorship to this sport will go a long way,” Tan said. “I see this tournament as a tool to discover new talents form our grassroots that will surely deliver a new hope for Bacolod.”
In the just-concluded tournament, the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts emerged as the champion after beating Ateneo de Cebu, 25-4, 22-25, 25-6, 25-15, behind the impressive game of MVP Kezzia Bedonia.
“With the success of this year’s edition, we are looking forward to have a bigger event next year. I already got words from teams in Manila that they will be participating in next year’s event,” Montalbo said.
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Adamson University softball’s Angelie Ursabia and Ateneo Blue Eagles swimmer Aldo Batungbacal have been named as the Athletes of the Year in the seniors division of UAAP Season 79, which formally closed recently.
Ursabia was chosen for the citation due to her solid performance in her final year for the Lady Falcons, where she bagged the season MVP trophy aside from the Most Homeruns and Best Slugger awards.
Aside from spearheading Lady Falcons’ seventh straight UAAP championship, Ursabia also did national team duties for the Blu Girls in last year’s World Cup of Softball XI in Oklahoma City and in the World Women’s Softball Championships in Surrey, Canada.
Batungbacal, meanwhile, led the Blue Eagles campaign for the third straight championship in the men’s seniors swimming event. The Season 79 MVP also became a member of the Team Philippines that competed in the 18th ASEAN University Games in Singapore.
Batungbacal was impressive for the Blue Eagles, winning the 1,500-meter freestyle (16:42.21) and setting new league marks in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:22.95), 100-meter breaststroke (1:05.78) and 400-meter individual medley (4:39.98).
Ursabia and Batungbacal thus duplicated the feats of their former teammates Queeny Sabobo and Jessie Khing Lacuna, who also won the league’s highest individual honor last season./PN
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