Tuesday, April 24, 2007 After loss, SWU plans to put up sandcourt
AFTER a bridemaid’s finish in the Nestea Beach Volleyball Championships, Southwestern University (SWU) is putting its preparation for next year in high gear.
SWU athletic director Ryan Aznar is making sure they get back the elusive reputation of being the only school to have made a grand slam in the 11-year-old competition.
“We are getting back on top, where we belong, slowly but surely,” said Aznar.
SWU is allocating an undetermined amount of budget to put up a sand court just outside the Aznar Coliseum, which is also about to undergo a major facelift.
“I am giving beach volleyball huge importance,” he said. “We plan on putting UV’s streak to a stop,” Aznar jokingly added.
Second loss
Last weekend, SWU, a three-time national champion, which was represented by Janelle Tabio and Maritess Natad, bowed down to UV’s Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Armie Igot in the Nestea championship in Boracay.
It was the second time in months that SWU lost to UV this year. Last March, UV also upended the Tabio-Natad duo in the finals of the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation Beach Volleyball Competition.
Natad and Tabio’s performance, however, was enough to impress Aznar, as making the final round is a huge turnaround from their finish last year, where they were eliminated in the qualifying round.
“We are very satisfied with how they fared in the tournament. We were only third seed in the qualifying but we made it to the final round even if the players had very little practice,” Aznar added.
Permanent site
If the sand court will push through, it will be the very first one that Cebu will have. It would also mean a permanent practice venue for anyone who wishes to train in beach volleyball.
“The main goal for this (sand court) is for the SWU players to have a permanent practice venue. They no longer have to travel far,” said Aznar.
As of the moment, Cebu teams had to contend practicing in beaches in Inayagan or in Lilo-an.
Other than the practice venue, Aznar will also be providing his wards the necessary gears needed for the players.
Gear
“If other athletes need stuff like shoes or knee pads, then we will be providing the beach volleyball players stuffs like top of the line eyewear and appropriate attire,” he added.
Under Aznar’s tenure, the SWU sports department is undergoing some major changes.
Barely a year in the position, Aznar has already started finding SWU’s sporting glory, which has gone astray.
His first stop is to put up a basketball team. In the coming months, the Aznar Coliseum will be refurbished, while a covered volleyball court will also be put up.
Aznar is setting SWU’s focus on basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball and football. (MCB)
