FOUR OF of the world's top volleyball teams showed local fans a glimpse of their prowess yesterday as they began practice for the World Grand Prix Women's Volleyball Championship set Friday through Sunday at the PhilSports Arena (formerly Ultra).
Fresh from a grand prix event in Macau and Taiwan, the teams from Cuba, Brazil, Italy and South Korea worked out at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the St. Benilde and La Salle gyms and impressed the fans who came out to watch them practice.
"The fans were thrilled at their expertise and great
attacking and blocking style," said Philippine Volleyball Association president
Luis Gepuela, himself a long-time college coach at the Ateneo.
"They showed why they are considered the world's
best," he added as the teams practiced in the morning as well as in the
afternoon.
The Philippine leg of the world grand prix starts Friday with Cuba facing South Korea at 5:30 p.m. and Italy facing Brazil at 7:30 p.m. The games will be telecast "live" or slightly delayed over IBC-13 courtesy of Vintage Television. and on ESPN for the global broadcast.
Tickets for the event are selling briskly assuring a sellout crowd for the three-day, single round-robin competition which ends Sunday.
Tickets are available at Ticketworld outlets in National Book Stores with prices ranging from P50 to P250 depending on the seat location. Inquiries may be coursed through PAVA at 526-8438 and 523-6489.
The teams will be playing for points and cash prizes as they battle for positions leading to the World Grand Prix finals in Beijing next week.
Although Brazil beat Cuba in the Pan American Games a few weeks ago, Cuba remains the favorite to top the Manila leg based on its world rankings.
Cuba is ranked No. 1 in the world with Brazil, Italy and South Korea in the top 10.
The tournament, the biggest to be held in the country this year, is expected to promote the development of the sport and also project the Philippines as a tourist destination.
It is sponsored by PAGCOR, the PCSO, Honda Cars,
Isuzu Phils., Solart, Citgo Phils., Nextel, Aqua Fina, Gatorade, the Department
of Tourism, Century Park Hotel, Triple V and UBix, Taraflex, SSS, Mikasa,
and Casino Filipino.
Text adapted from Manila Bulletin, August 18,
1999