Subic hosts NCAA Season 99 Beach Volleyball Tournament

Subic Bay Freeport plays host once again to the NCAA Season 99 Beach Volleyball Tournament, the host of the prestigious collegiate event since 2012.

The tournament kicked off yesterday (January 24), culminating on the 28th at the Subic Bay Sand Courts, once the battleground of the best beach volleyball players from Southeast Asia during the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2019.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Deputy Administrator for Administration Atty. Ruel John Kabigting cited that admission is free for any beach volleyball fan who wish to root for their teams during the games. He added that the continued hosting of Subic for the NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament is a testament of the agency’s thrust to help budding athletes become part of the national talent pool.

“Subic Freeport is incomparable to any other place in the country. The sand, sea and mountains are great venues for various sporting events such as triathlons, duathlons, epic bike races, marathons, and of course, beach volleyball,” he said.

 “We are proud and honored to be the host of the event, and I hope that Subic Freeport remains the host for this event for the centennial season next year. It is also a great honor for us to cultivate the younger generation of athletes and make Subic their second home,” he added.

The official thanked the tournament organizers for promoting Subic Bay Freeport as their preferred sports destination, citing that their continued patronage of the area shows how much they trust the agency. He added that the SBMA is complete in terms of emergency responders, as well as competent security officers that keep the event safe and secure.

Jose Rizal University is the host of the tournament with Management Committee chairman Paul Supan leading the organizing of the event. Supan said, “We have an exciting tournament ahead of us. This year, we brought back our junior division so there are now three divisions: mens, women's and junior.

He added that the reason why the organizing committee chose this Freeport is that Subic provides the appropriate atmosphere and ambience of holding the beach volleyball event. He added that one of the players to look out for is Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Louie Ramirez who is a promising talent to become part of the national team.

According to NCAA Beach Volleyball Event Chairman Peter Cayco, 12 persons represent each of the 10 schools. However, since some schools brought their staff along with them, the delegation is now at 200, yielding a full capacity for billeting  hosts Bayfront Hotel and Terrace Hotel.  This also caused a spill over to nearby hotels such as Subic Park hotel and Seorabol Grand Leisure Hotel.

“The spill over to other hotels happened since some of the players came along with their family and friends. This is certainly good for the economy since Subic Bay Freeport is a brand name in the sports tourism sector,” he added. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic hosts season 98 NCAA beach volleyball tournament

This premier Freeport again plays host to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Beach Volleyball Tournament after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Rolen C. Paulino, who was represented by the Chief of Staff and Deputy Administrator for Business Atty. John Aquino, the hosting of the NCAA’s Season 98 Beach Volleyball Tournament is among the first of many sporting events that will be held in Subic Freeport.

Paulino cited that the hosting of the NCAA Beach Volleyball Tournament is also a grassroots thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in molding the youth to become the country’s representative in the Olympics.

Around 150 delegations, including players, coaches and game officials from participating schools are currently in Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) to take part in the tournament. Paulino reminded the participants to keep the SBF clean as they go around and visit various places and establishments. 

NCAA Season 98 Management Committee Chairman Estefanio Boquiron Jr. expressed elation over the venue of the tournament, citing that if the court is good for the Southeast Asian Games, it is certainly good for the NCAA.

“We started playing in Subic Bay Freeport several years back, using the sands at the Boardwalk area. After the first tournament held here, we just fell in love with the place because of the friendliness of the people and the cleanliness of the area,” Vice-chairman Paul Supan of the Jose Rizal University said.

Supan added that the Subic Bay Freeport is certainly the home of the NCAA’s Beach Volleyball Tournament, adding that the association aims to hold all of their beach volleyball tournaments in this premier Freeport.

Supan also said that the San Beda University Women’s team and the Emilio Aguinaldo College men’s team will defend their title in their respective divisions. He added that due to the long hiatus, teams from various schools are raring to show off their game.

The NCAA tournament will be held from January 17 to 21 at the Subic Bay Sand Courts.

In December last year, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation held its Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour at the Subic Bay Sand Courts. (MPD-SBMA)

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Safety a priority in Subic ‘bubble’ volleyball tourney

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has stressed safety as top requirement in the ongoing 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup, a three-day competition that was the first to be held in the country under a “sports bubble” concept.

In welcoming participants and organizers to Subic at the opening of the tourney on Friday, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma reminded everyone to strictly observe health protocols, as required by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which approved the sports event.

“Please always remember that we are here today because we have kept Subic safe in these pandemic times. We have kept our Covid numbers low with the cooperation of our residents, workers and visitors,” Eisma pointed out.

“We intend to keep it this way,” she added.

Eisma also said that the success of the volleyball tournament “will put Subic in the map as the bubble destination for sports and other events in the Philippines.”

The tournament marked the historic return of the Philippine Superliga (PSL) after 11 months of inactivity.

Organizers meanwhile said there was no reported case of coronavirus infection out of 56 players, coaches and league staff who joined the Subic volleyball bubble.

PSL president Ian Laurel said the PSL is honored to become the first non-professional volleyball tournament to restart its season after securing the IATF nod thorough Resolution 79 dated Oct. 15, 2020.

“We are very happy that volleyball is finally coming back, especially with the help of SBMA and IATF Region 3. Even if there’s a pandemic, with the help of the IATF and the LGU (local government unit), we were able to bring back the sport,” Laurel said.

“We can actually share the message to all leagues that they should not be discouraged. Our athletes should continue their training because there will come a time that tournaments would be allowed with the help of the IATF and the LGU.”

In the first day of the tournament at the Subic sand courts, Sta. Lucia and Abanse Negrense opened their respective campaigns on a high note as they crushed their respective foes. Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete of Sta. Lucia B showed no sign of rust as they routed Ariane Alarcon and Christina Canares of Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz, 21-10, 21-9, in the opening match of the tourney.

A few hours later, it was the tandem of DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia of Sta. Lucia B that made its presence felt as they clobbered Jonah San Pedro and Javen Sabas of Toby’s Sports, 21-18, 21-13.

Also victorious was the duo of Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato of Abanse Negrense, which crushed Jennymar Senares and Kyla Gallego of F2 Logistics, 21-15, 21-12, to wrap up the morning battles of this competition.

Their counterparts, Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva of Abanse Negros B, also pocketed an early victory after dominating Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas of United Auctioneers, Inc., 21-13, 21-12, in Pool B. (MPD-sBMA)

PHOTOS:

The Subic sand courts again saw action on Friday at the opening of the three-day 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup.

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Subic Freeport to host first ‘bubble’ volleyball playoffs

The country’s first-ever volleyball tournament to be held under the Covid-19 pandemic will happen right here at the sand courts of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Feb. 26-28.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the 2021 Gatorade-PSL Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup organized by Philippine Super Liga (PSL) will be held under a “sports bubble” concept approved under strict guidelines by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The IATF through Resolution No. 79 issued on Oct. 15, 2020 allowed the PSL volleyball tourney subject to strict observance of, among others, health and safety protocols finalized with the SBMA, the local Regional Task Force Covid-19, and the local Department of Health Center for Health Development.

“Because of this, there will be no spectators to be allowed at the tournament area, and only players and organizers and technical crew will be out there. But the games will be livestreamed on television and online channels,” Eisma said.

“It’s the second-best thing next to a playoff with live audience, and I believe the excitement and intensity of the games won’t be diminished a bit by the restriction,” she added.

Eisma added that under the sports bubble concept, all participants in the tournament, as well as the organizers and technical crew, will be housed in dedicated accommodation facilities and monitored by health and safety personnel. They will have no interaction with the public, she added.

The PSL said a total of eight teams will see action this season at the SBMA sand courts, which served as venue for an exciting beach volleyball meet during the 30th Southeast Asian Games in December 2019.

These are Sta. Lucia, which is billed as the team to beat with veteran beach volley campaigners Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete, as well as DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia; guest team Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz, with the tandem of Ariane Luna Alarcon and Christina Canares; and F2 Logistics, with Jenny Mar Senares, Kyla Angela Gallego.

Meanwhile, Chery Tiggo, which will don the colors of United Auctioneers Inc., will join the fray with Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas; Abanse Negrense 1 with Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato; Abanse Negrense 2 with Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva; and Toby’s Sports with Jonah San Pedro and Javen Sabas.

The tourney sponsored by Cherrylume, Ube Express and Subic Bay Peninsular Hotel, also has Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Data Project and Genius Sports as technical partners.

PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico said this historic tourney will not be possible without the support of the participating teams, as well as IATF, which approved the bubble setup in Subic.

“By becoming the first volleyball league to restart its season in the coronavirus era, we have a very big responsibility to our players, coaches, team owners, the media, and other stakeholders. But rest assured that we will do everything to observe all the necessary health and safety protocols in accordance with the policies of the IATF, the SBMA, and the Department of Health,” Juico added.

Eisma said the PSL volleyball tournament will just be the first in a series of tourism-related events being prepared for implementation in Subic under the bubble setup.

“We are also eyeing basketball events, beauty pageants, and conferences, which would be possible here because of facilities that allow social distancing, the availability of quarantine hotels where event participants can be housed in isolation, and strict adherence by stakeholders to health and safety protocols,” she added.

The Subic Bay Freeport also serves as a crew change hub for international commercial vessels and hosts a corporate jet maintenance bubble at the Subic Bay International Airport. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Tourism Department personnel prepare the SBMA sand courts on Tuesday for the start of PSL’s 2021 Gatorade-Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup this Friday. 

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WOMEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL - The 30th SEA Games in Subic Bay (In Photos)

Day 5 of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, December 6, 2019, Subic Bay Cluster.

[1] The Philippines’ Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriquez take on Singapore’s Eliza Chong and Gladys Lee during their last round-robin match at the Subic Sand Court on Friday, Dec. 6. The Philippine duo won at 21-18, 21-16

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Amy Eisma waves the Philippine colors as she cheers with her staff for the Philippine women’s volleyball team during their match against Singapore at the Subic Sand Court on Friday, Dec. 6

[3] Bronze medalists Dij Rodriquez, Dzi Gervacio, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons pose triumphantly after beating Singapore and winning the bronze medal in women’s beach volleyball at the Subic Sand Court on Friday, Dec. 6

[4] Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons

[5] Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriquez

Photos & captions by the SBMA Media Production Department/Jonas Reyes/Robin Tuazon

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MEN'S BEACH VOLLEYBALL / MUAY THAI - The 30th SEA Games in Subic Bay (In Photos)

Day 3 of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, December 4, 2019, Subic Bay Cluster.

[1] The men’s beach volleyball game between Malaysia and Cambodia at the Subic Sand Court on Dec. 4.

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma watches the men’s beach volleyball game between Malaysia and Cambodia and leads in cheering for the foreign athletes.

[3] Filipino muay thai duo Jerome Calica and Joemar Gallaza carry a dazzling performance to win the gold medal in the Male Waikru & Mai Muay event at the Subic Bay and Exhibition Center on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

[4] Thailand women’s duo Thanawan Thongduang and Ruchira Wongsriwo spar for a gold-medal finish in the Waikru & Mai Muay Thai event at the Subic Bay and Exhibition Center on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

[5] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma with Muay Thai silver medalists Irendin Lepatan (left) and Rusha Mae Bayacsan who won in the Waikru Mai Muay Thai women’s competition at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on Dec. 4 with 9.45 points.

[6] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma congratulates Philippine Muay Thai athletes Jerchen Calica and Joemar Gallaza after winning the gold for men’s Waikru at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on Dec. 4.

[7]Employees of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)clean up portions of the triathlon venue along Subic’s Waterfront Road on Dec. 4 after rains and winds from Typhoon ‘Tisoy’ affected SEA Games venues in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Photos & captions by the SBMA Media Production Department/Roderick Cerezo/Carrie T. Aspa/Dong Andres

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