Here’s to more tournaments

The V-League decision to include teams from the armed services and corporations to beef up its tournament augurs well for the continued development of volleyball in the country.
The unavailability of popular teams like Santo Tomas and La Salle due to academic reasons or preparations for the upcoming UAAP season prompted the V-League to look for other squads.
Three armed forces teams—Army, Navy and Air Force—are in the current tournament and fans are delighted to see many of the former college stars like Rachel Ann Daquis, Wendy Semana, Suzanne Roces and others back in the spotlight.
For now, women’s volleyball seems to be the more engaging sport to promote but it is hoped that someday the men will find a generous sponsor and organizer that will push their game into the public consciousness.
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Over the years, military teams have been the haven of athletes who want to continue playing. Without a commercial or professional league, many college athletes have nowhere to go after their eligibility to play for their school expires.
Sometimes the sports associations of their chosen sport are so disorganized and lacking in vision that they lose interest in playing. That’s sad when you consider that those just out of college are still in their prime in their sport.
The explosion of the Azkals on the sports scene of late has given young football players in school squads a goal to work for. Being on the national squad and playing football with a club after school is over is a plateau to work for.
Even if it does not pay you an enormous salary or if you still have to keep another job to keep on playing, you’ll take it because your sport has given you a chance to play on.
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We hope that more visionaries, broadcasters and sponsors will concoct tournaments if not leagues outside of basketball, volleyball and football.
Martial arts like taekwondo, judo and karate could surely use more competition, exposure and support.
Medal-rich sports like shooting, swimming and athletics also need sustained events to continuously find new talent and keep the veterans sharp and battle-ready.
Having more tournaments and leagues is good not only for athletes and the national team but also for keeping different sports in our busy lives and in our TV schedules.
Dramas, comedies and game shows are just fine but a generous dose of sports watching is also good for the soul.