Santa Ana Open gets going today

SANTA ANA, CAGAYAN— Charo Soriano loves the homecoming feel and she hopes that will translate into something productive for her and teammate Bea Tan when the Beach Volleyball Republic International Santa Ana Open serves off here Saturday.

“It’s always nice coming back here in Cagayan, in my province,” Soriano said.

“We’re offering the biggest prize we’ve had so everybody is excited,” Tan said.

A total of $19,000 will be up for grabs in the event, which will have competitions in men’s and women’s divisions.

Presented by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) and First Cagayan, Tan and Soriano will also hold their regular “Sandroots” clinic for kids.

“We always try to accommodate as many kids as we can to try and inspire them to take up the sport,” Tan told the Inquirer.

And with topnotch foreign teams on tap, it will be a hard climb for the local squads, who will be led by reigning BVR women’s champions Lot Catubag and Karen Quilario of Davao.

“The Ceza, being an important node of economic development in northern Luzon, prides itself of hosting such major sports events—part and parcel of the zone’s mission to be a successful world-class eco, leisure, tourism and sports destination,” said Secretary Raul Lambino, the Ceza administrator and chief executive officer.

The event starts at 8 a.m., with First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corp. president Francis Hernando and Santa Ana Mayor Darwin Tobias welcoming participants and guests.