By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod City’s very own beach volleyball standouts will take center stage as the city fields Divine Yanson and Abriel Rouge Alvero in the 1st Mayor Raisa S. Treñas International Women’s Beach Volleyball Tournament set for August 23 to 24 at the Joe III Garden in Iloilo City.

Yanson and Alvero will banner Bacolod’s campaign in the two-day meet, looking to make their mark against powerhouse collegiate teams and a strong Japanese contingent from Nippon Sports and Science University.

The visiting athletes — Maki Yuna, Matsuzaki Ibuki, Taniguchi Kokoro, and Aoki Momone — will be splitting into two teams, marking the first-ever international entries in the city’s beach volleyball competition.

The tournament will also showcase the top Philippine squads in National University (NU)-A, with Kathrina Epa and Honey Grace Cordero, while NU-B will be spearheaded by Kizil Quijote and Liezl Dejan.

The University of Santo Tomas will parade the tandem of Kylem Progella and Sofia Pagara, with San Beda sending Marielle Teves and Bea Udarbe.

De La Salle University-Dasmariñas will compete with Janela Berna Sabado and April Rose Tre-inta.

Host city Iloilo will likewise be well-represented.

Central Philippine University will have Cherry Bagnate and Candice Damacino, while Western Institute of Technology will field Charity Rivera and Kristel Lacaran.

“This is a historic sports event involving a foreign team which will field two entries,” Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go “Ka Ruding” Villaruz said.

“We are thankful to the Iloilo City LGU, through the Office of Sports and Youth Development, for partnering with us,” he added.

The competition is one of the accredited activities for the Iloilo City Charter Day Celebration, further cementing the city’s status as a rising hub for sports tourism in the region./ASC, WDJ