WITH the local volleyball community finally coming to work together as one, Philippine volleyball can expect better days ahead.

Even with the pandemic, the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and Beach Volleyball Republic have lined-up a series of local and international tournaments to keep the sport alive and the players busy.

Well-known volleyball player-turned- official Charo Soriano believes it is a win-win scenario in a sporting world trying to get back to its feet despite the continuing threat of the coronavirus.

“We can expect a lot of volleyball action now starting with the BVR on Tour in Sta. Ana, Cagayan this month,” said Soriano during the 125th “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom last Oct. 21.

“Tuloy-tuloy po tayo ngayong taon at madami tayong naka line-up. Rest assured that come 2022, we will also lay down our calendar so everybody can prepare,” added Soriano in the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Soriano said their experiences in participating in bubble tournaments held abroad helps them a lot in the return of beach volleyball after an absence of two years.

“Ito po yung sinasabing catalyst of hope for the other organizers to also be able to do a bubble tournament. We want to be able to share our insights, inputs and learnings to other sports. Maganda ito sa komunidad natin sa sports, na isa-isa nang bumabalik,” added Soriano.

“Apart from the BVR here in Sta. Ana this weekend and next weekend, we are preparing for an international tournament — Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships — in Phuket, Thailand on Nov. 23-27. Then there’s an international tournament for the Youth Under-19 and Under-21 teams in in Thailand. And to cap off the year 2021, the PNVF will also organize a bubble tournament for the PNVF Beach Volleyball Championships in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte this year.

Soriano said the support of the PSC and the PNVF proved to be the turning point.

“Pinadala ng PSC, PNVF at Rebisco yun dalawang national teams sa AVC tournament sa Thailand last June. We learned a lot not only on the players side but me also in the organizing side.”

“For this BVR return, we decided to do two consecutive legs to maximize the time and the travel of everybody. We got the idea from the FIVB Mexico when they did the three legs in Cancun where they made the bubble and played there for three weeks. They also did it in California for three consecutive weeks,” she recalled.

“Here in Cagayan, we want to able to try to do two consecutive legs. This is the first time for BVR. I know malaking tulong yun sa mga participants, na lumipad pa from Visayas at Mindanao. For them to be able to travel and get here, they needed negative RT-PCR result and then upon arriving in the border of Santa Ana, Cagayan, meron kaming triage right outside of hotel. The participants cannot enter the bubble unless they have a negative swab result,” explained Soriano.

In the BVR tournament alone, Soriano there are about 135 participants from 13 women’s and 11 men’s teams, excluding marshalls.

“Our priority is to follow the health and safety protocols,” admitted Soriano even as she also thanked the local government units of Sta. Ana and Cagayan.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa mga LGUs that helped us along the way like Sta. Ana at Tuguegarao. They helped us make sure na yung swab testing at police enforcement sa public beach na pinaglalaruan namin. We have to make sure that there would be enforcers along the beach that will actually make sure na walang makapapasok na iba sa bubble.”

Soriano said the teams seeng action in the women’s division are Creamline, PLDT, TM, Biogenic, Eastern Communications, Toyota-Tuguegarao, Black Mamba Army, Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors, Boysen, Delimondo and Good Health-CDO.

In the men’s division are Creamline, PLDT, Army-FSD Makati, DeliRush, Tuguegarao, EVI Construction and Negros Occidental Beach Volleyball Club .

The BVR founder also said the games will be streamed live on the Puso Pilipinas and Smart Sports Facebook pages and YouTube channels.

For updates regarding the Santa Ana leg, follow BVR’s social media accounts, according to Soriano. With reports from Gab Ferreras.