HS, College teams battle in Beach Volley Fest

Island Garden City of Samal – It was a clash of wit, flair, and strategy as various high school and college volleyball teams duked it out for the first Blue Knights @ Bluejaz Beach Volley Festival held at Bluejaz Beach Resort and Waterpark last weekend, Aug. 23-24.

According to Event Organizing Head Mario Mojica, the tournament aims to promote beach volleyball.

“The purpose of the event is to give a playing venue for the players, [and] to show their skills in playing beach volleyball, kasi ang beach volleyball, wala, ginakaligtaan na. So this is the first na katuyuan na ma-develop ang sport.

“This is an Olympic sport. So, kinahanglan, naa pud ta’y ma-develop nga players ani,” he added.

Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) triumphed against DMMA College of Southern Philippines (DCPS) in the College-Men’s Division championship. University of Mindanao (UM) Tagum placed third.

In the College-Women’s Division finals, UM Davao B defeated UM Tagum, while UM Davao A settled for third place.

UM Tagum A came out strong in the High School-Boys Division vs. Pablo Lorenzo National High School, who placed over UM Tagum B for second and third place, respectively.

It was an all-in victory for Tagum National High School in the High School-Girls Division, as Tagum NHS B took home gold and Tagum NHS A clinched silver, with UM Tagum rounding off the top three.

When asked on how it felt to have both of her teams playing against each other for the High School-Girl’s Division championship round, Tagum NHS A and B Coach Felannie Caasi was elated.

“Pirti jung lipaya kay wala man jud mi nag-expect nga [makasulod sa championship] because ang [mga] kalaban nila is kusog then praktisado kaayo. Wala pud mi practice nga pareha sa preparasyon nga gihimo sa [mga] kalaban,” she said.

The victory was made even sweeter for Caasi, as the event was nothing short of a family affair; her daughters play for Tagum NHS B, her son for UM B, and her husband coaches the latter.

Edmar Flores of HCDC, the College-Men’s Division champions, said that the success was not only his.

“Happy mi kay bisa’g init kayo ang adlaw, napaningkamutan namo na madaog mi. Salamat kaayo labi na kay God, salamat kay naa siya, ug sa amung ubang teammates nga naga-support, sa amuang school, ug labi na sa nagpadula, Ateneo, daghang salamat,” he said.

The two-day tournament was made even more exciting with activities such as the Island Foam Party which featured DJ Torch and Wacky Masbad, and a Fire Dance presentation.

RESULTS:

•College – Men’s Division
Champion: HCDC
1st Runner-up: DCSP
2nd Runner-up: UM Tagum

•College – Women’s Division
Champion: UM Davao B
1st Runner-up: UM Tagum
2nd Runner-up: UM Davao A

•High School – Men’s Division
Champion: UM Tagum A
1st Runner-up: Pablo Lorenzo NHS
2nd Runner-up: UM Tagum B

•High School – Women’s Division
Champion: Tagum NHS B
1st Runner-up: Tagum NHS A
2nd Runner-up: UM Tagum


This article was published by Atenews, the official student publication of the Ateneo de Davao University, under the same author. For more university news updates, go to Atenews.

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