SLU leads cast in BFF beach volley

SAINT Louis University (SLU) is expected to banner some 16 collegiate squads in the first True Colors BBEAL Panagbenga Women's Beach Volleyball at the Burnham Park on March 2 to 3.

SLU, together with the University of the Cordilleras and the University of Baguio, will be among the teams to watch each in the highly competitive and moderately competitive divisions of the two day event presented by the City of Baguio.

"It's very exciting since this is the first time that we hold one for the colleges and during the BBEAL," said Fuentes, whose Navigators lead the 10-schools BBEAL with seven gold medals to boast.

Joan Lunday, the top spiker from the University of Baguio, hopes to reclaim volleyball supremacy for her school as she is expected to lead one of the bracket A teams.

"Sana eto na ang simula at taon taon meron ng ganito," added Fuentes, the head of the Philippine Volleyball Federation for Cordilleras, who will head the officiating in the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association games in Luna, Apayao on Feb 27 until March 3.

Roxanne Agudia and Almonte are ready to roar for the Jaguars who have an axe to grind especially against volleyball champion SLU, which is expected to parade the rookie duo of Colleen Rossi and EJ Daniel.

"It is a good thing that Colleen and EJ will be together since it will start a tandem that will hopefully run for five years," said Fuentes, former volleyball coach of SLU which is now handled by his former player, Gerald Peralta.

Other teams seeing action in bracket A is the University of the Philippines.

In bracket B, UP, CCDC and Pines City College are expected to show opposition in the nine team bracket.

Meanwhile, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he is thrilled to see volleyball games as part of the 2013 Panagbenga.

"This is a welcome addition to our festivity although I would prefer that it be scheduled that it will be not in conflict with some of the major draws," he said.

The two-day event is staged at the same time as the Pony Boy Day on March 2 when the athletic bowl is filled with "cowboys" atop their horses and ponies.

He said the organizer, the True Colors Media Works should reconsider and slate it the week before on February 23 and 24 during the street dancing and float parade.

Fuentes also said Baguio delegates and officials from the PVF will leave for Apayao on February 27 and are to return on March 3 for the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association meet. (Roderick Osis)