JEDDAH, 22 August 2003 — The 2nd invitational volleyball tournament organized by the Filipino Amateur Volleyball Association (FAVA) opened at King Abdul Aziz Medical City volleyball court last Friday.
Despite a humid afternoon, seven women’s and six men’s team, in complete colorful uniforms, accompanied by muses and mascots paraded around the court to an enthusiastic applause of an appreciative crowd.
The entries are led by Dr. Erfan and Bagedo Hospital-Team A, the defending women’s champions. Expected to challenge for this year’s trophy are King Abdul Aziz Medical City, Jeddah Thunder, Dr. Erfan Bagedo Hospital-Team B, Dr. Ghassan Pharaon Hospital, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, and Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital.
In the men’s division, King Abdul Aziz Medical City, the defending champions, will have to contend with Al-Shurafa, Tamimi Global, Elaf, Dr. Ghassan Pharaon Hospital, and Red Pirates. “One of the purposes of this tournament is for the Filipino community to be united though sports,” says Efren Barros, Tournament Director and Chairman of FAVA.
In the first game, King Abdul Aziz Medical City trounced Dr. Erfan Bagedo Hospital-Team B, in two sets 25-22 and 25-23.
Defending men’s champion King Abdul Aziz Medical City, after exchanging some furious kills and rallies, finally nailed the first set 25-24.
But after the break, Al-Surafa charged back and led all the way for a comfortable 25-22 second set victory. King Abdul Aziz regrouped after that, winning the deciding set 15-11; and the match.
The third game between defending women’s champions Dr. Erfan Bagedo Hospital-Team A and Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital was another action-packed match. The champions drew first blood by winning the first set 25-16. The second set, however, saw Dr. Soliman Fakeeh’s volley belles eke out a hard-earned 29-27 win.
With bragging rights on line, Dr. Erfan Bagedo Hospital jumped the gun on their rivals to win comfortably the third and deciding set 15-11.
The games of the tournament are played every Thursday and Friday at the King Adbul Aziz Medical City volleyball court. The tournament has Crowne Plaza, Marriott Hotel, Chili’s and Westin Hotel Jeddah as sponsors.
