TOBY’S SPORTS JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE (Season 5)
“Decades ago, the Philippines reigned over the sport of Volleyball in Southeast Asia. This was short-lived for the lack of exposure and support from both the private and government sectors. Media coverages, particularly television, focused on basketball only. We lost our supremacy in the sport” lamented Roger Banzuela, former Philippine Volleyball Federation President.
In 2002, a group of former broadcast marketing executives and an advertising executive organized Metro Sports, a company whose mission / vision was to produce, launch and establish viable sporting events that could be of interest to the general public. The Sport of Volleyball needed to be “re-invented” by starting them young at primary school levels and grow. into secondary levels.
As fate would have it, Metro Sports met with the Toby’s Sports Group to acquire a sponsorship package that was subsequently presented and accepted. This was the beginning of Toby’s Sports long-term advocacy to embrace primary level volleyball.
Buoyed by the tremendous impact and success of the launch, Toby’s Sports became the single most-identified supporter of Elementary volleyball in Metro Manila. Since then. Volleyball got a much needed boost from the company that promotes and markets sporting goods.
THE OPENING
Last December 13, 2009, the 5th Season of the TOBY’S SPORTS JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL LEAGUEW opened at the Arellano University Gym. This was participated in by 21 Boys and Girls Volleyball teams from the Elementary level. The participating teams were:
BOYS DIVISION (10) GIRLS DIVISION (11)
Maximo Estrella Elementary School Miriam College Elementary School
De La Salle Lipa Colegio San Agustin
Colegio San Agustin De La Salle Lipa
Lucas Pascual Elementary School De La Salle Zobel
Xavier School Hope Christian School
Claret School QC PAREF Woodrose
Lourdes School QC Colegio de Santa Rosa
St. Joseph School-Tondo St. Pedro Poveda College
University of Perpetual Help-Molino MGC New Life Academy
Concepcion Elementary School Our Lady of Perpetual Succor
University of Perpetual Help Molino
Present during the Opening of the League were: Mr. Jojo Claudio, President of Toby’s Sports, who welcomed all participants in his Opening Remarks and said. “We are happy to see how the League has grown in a span of five year not only in number of participating teams but also in the quality of play. Other Toby’s Sports executives who graced the occasion were: Mr. Lawrence Navarro, Ms. Nicole Limon and Mr. Mike de Leon. Metro Sports President and League Organizer, Freddie Infante likewise delivered his keynote address.
Though not all the participating teams attended the traditional Parade of Teams due to previous scholastic commitments, those present joined the Parade of Colors and highlighted by the Ceremonial Serve.


THE ACTION


THE FINALS and the AWARDING CEREMONIES

Messrs. Bobby Claudio and Toby Claudio, Chairman and Vice President for Operations respectively, were present for the Finals and Awarding Ceremonies. The Championship match for the Boys’ Division was between defending Champion, Maximo Estrella Elementary School and De La Salle Lipa. The match went all through 5-sets with MEES coming back from a 2-set deficit to win 19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-6.
In the 4th set, De La Salle’s key player, Joshua Diaz suffers a severe leg-cramp with DLSL leading at 19-17. This caused his being sidelined and the void proved detrimental to the team. MEES took advantage of his absence and went on to win the Championship.
“We congratulate both Champions of this 5th Season and all the teams and the coaches for the enthusiasm put into the game. These players have shown maturity at an early age” said Mr. Toby Claudio, Toby’s Sports Vice President and Operations Manager during the closing ceremonies of Season 5.
FINAL SCORES
BOYS’ DIVISION
Concepcion Elementary School vs Colegio San Agustin 25-9, 25-17
(2nd Runner-Up) (3rd Runner-Up)
Maximo Estrella Elem. School vs De La Salle Lipa 19-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-6
(Champion) (1st Runner-Up)
GIRLS’ DIVISION
De La Salle Zobel vs Paref Woodrose 25-17, 25-17
(2nd Runner-Up) (3rd Runner-Up)
De La Salle Lipa vs Colegio San Agustin 18-25, 25-17, 25-14, 25-16
(Champion) (1st Runner-Up)
SPECIAL AWARDEES
GIRLS' EDITION
Season 5 C H A M P I O N S

(L to R) Freddie Infante – President Metro Sports, BEST BLOCKER – Patrcia Ambal (DLSL), BEST
LIBERO – Felicia Cui (DLSZ), BEST SERVER-Samantha Torres (CSA), BEST RECEIVER- Margaret
Elane (WOODROSE), BEST SETTER-Alessandra Narciso (DLSZ), BEST ATTACKER and MVP-Arrienne
Illustre (DLSL),BEST COACH-Imee
BOYS DIVISION
Season 5 C H A M P I O N S

(L to R) Toby Claudio (TOBY’S SPORTS Vice President and Operation Manager), MVP-Zozimo
Micutuan Jr. (MEES), BEST SERVER-Rodney Espejo (CES), BEST RECEIVER- Joshua Diaz (DLSL),
BEST BLOCKER-Christian de la Paz (CES), BEST ATTACKER- Levin Dimayuga (DLSL), BEST LIBERO-
Alejandro Zaballa (MEES), BEST SETTER- Arvin Sayson(MEES), Boby Claudio( TOBY’S SPORTS