GUV Cup, Cesafi seal partnership

SEVERAL years ago, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) and the Gov. Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball (GUV) Cup seemed headed to a clash.

At one point, Cesafi coaches were worried their players might not be allowed to play in the Cesafi if they join the Guv Cup. Since they were playing for their hometowns, it was out of the coaches’ hand.

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That issue was settled after Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy said the players can only play if the Cesafi tournament is already over.

This year, Cesafi and the GUV Cup are partners and one group—the Cebu Volleyball Association—is running both tournaments.

“We reached out to Cesafi because we are both in the same line.

We share the same vision of raising the level of the game. To help enhance the performance of the athletes by providing them avenues to hone their skills and be discovered,” Gov. Gwen Garcia said during the opening ceremony.

Gov. Garcia was commended for giving back life to volleyball in Cebu Province.

She said she was overwhelmed that after five years, the GUV Cup was able to produce competent players who are now playing in the Cesafi.

“Every year, I notice an influx of better players. Because of this development, we are inspired to have this tournament go on for years. Through the years we seek for improvement. This started as a women’s tournament and last year we added a men’s category. We see a bright future ahead for our players. We want to see our fellow Cebuanos dominate the game of volleyball,” Gov. Garcia said.

Cesafi President Rolando Villa said this season, they are improving the competition to polish the skills of the athletes and become the best of the best.

In the opening games, defending champion University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) squashed University of Cebu (UC) in the men’s collegiate division, 25-11, 25-18, 22-25, 25-11.

USJ-R head coach Grace Antigua said she is still working with her recruits Jade Ellut of Sante Fe Bantayan, James Lawas of Sogod and Jay Johnson of Mandaue City. All three were discovered during the GUV Cup.

In the second game, the University of San Carlos pummeled Cebu Doctors University (CDU), 25-7,25-8, 25-11, while the University of the Visayas crushed Cebu Institute of Technology-University, 25-20,25-17, 25-13.

In the women’s collegiate division, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation
defeated Cebu Doctors’ University, 25-18,25-13, 25-21, and defending champion Southwestern University beat University of the Visayas, 25-8,25-8, 25-19.