Games will immediately follow after the short opening rites set at 8 a.m.
The volleyball tournament, the only remaining sport discipline to be contested before the 17-event 2006 Mayor Duterte Pahalipay sa Pasko sportsfest comes to an end, is supposed to be played last month. But tight schedule of the other teams forced organizers to move it this month.
Top college and high school teams across the city will vie for top honors in the event presented by Mayor Duterte.
Among the teams that will see action in men’s and women’s class are Holy Cross of Davao College, University of Mindanao, Ateneo de Davao University, Davao College of Southern Philippines, University of Immaculate Concepcion and Jose Maria College.
Ateneo de Davao High School under coach Exequil Tomines, which finished runner-up honors in the recently concluded Barangay Ma-a Open Invitational, will compete in the women’s division.
Tournament Director Daks Yamabao sees a tough battle in the three-day competition despite the absence of visiting teams from neighboring places.
“The level of competition definitely would be high, considering that this will be the final tune-up of the teams for the coming Davao City PRISAA meet,” said Yambao, who is also the Southern Mindanao chief of the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PAVA).
He said teams from Tagum City, especially University of Mindanao-Tagum City, could not join the event due to “conflict of schedules.”
Cash prizes and trophies are up for grabs in the event supported by the City Sports Development Division and sanctioned by the Davao Volleyball Association (DAVA). (Rico Biliran / MindaNews)