PSL players, staff test negative ahead of beach volleyball cup
FILE — April Ross Hingpit and Wensh Tiu of Cignal celebrate their victory over Foton Hurricanes Pau Soriano and Bea Tan. INQUIRER.net/TRISTAN TAMAYO
MANILA, Philippines—All players and staff who will participate in the 2021 Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup tested negative for COVID-19, the league announced Thursday.
A total of 57 players, coaches, and league staff were tested ahead of the games that will start on Friday inside a bubble environment at Subic Bay.
The PSL coordinated with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and the Inter Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases in terms of COVID tests and the set-up of the confined environment.
“We are very happy that volleyball is finally coming back, especially with the help of SBMA and IATF Region 3. Even if there’s pandemic, with the help of the IATF and the LGU (local government unit), we were able to bring back the sport,” said PSL president Ian Laurel.
“We can actually share the message to all leagues that they should not be discouraged. Our athletes should continue their training because there will come a time that tournaments would be allowed with the help of the IATF and the LGU.”
The PSL, despite being a non-professional league, got permission from the Games and Amusements Board to play its games through Resolution 79 that was dated October 15, 2020.
Bang Pineda and Jonah Sabete of Sta. Lucia 2, considered heavy favorites for the tournament, will start off the proceedings against Arianne Luna Alarcon and Christina Canares of Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz in Pool A at 8 am.
Cherry Tiggo will carry the colors of United Auctioneers, Inc. with Ella Viray and Therese Ramas taking on Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva of Abanse Negrense 2 at 9 a.m. in Pool B.
F2 Logistics fields Jenny Mar Senares and Kyla Angela Gallego against Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato of Abanse Negrense 1 in the 10 a.m. battle in Pool A.
Matches can be viewed on the PSL’s YouTube channel.
