43 teams chase cash

 By JACK AMI

IT will be a heated affair as 26 men and 17 women battle it out in the third International Training Institute Volleyball Cup that has K13,500 on offer.

The tournament starts today at Murray Barracks and ends on Sunday.

The three-day tournament is the biggest ever, with a record 43 teams eyeing the major prizes of K4,000, K2,000 and K750 and K500 for the best team and individual players.

The Dolphins men and Pahun women’s sides are tipped to snatch the major honours.

Both teams have number of prominent players to lead their assault.

Teams like Aleisa, Yarfo, Eagles and Mix Mates will provide stiff opposition for the Dolphins in the men’s grade.

The two top teams in each pool will make the quarter-finals, preliminary finals, semi-finals and the grand final on Sunday.

For many of these players this is a lead-up to the national open and youth championship over October 25-27 in Port Moresby. That tournament  will be staged at the PNGIPA court.

Institute marketing and sales manager Semi Rose said the theme for these year’s tournament was “Healthy body, healthy mind and be physically fit”.

 Rose said the institute would like to get youths involved in sports as a pathway to a better life. “We want  to change mindset of youths so that they keep themselves healthy and physically fit instead of engaging in illicit activities like drugs, alcohol and gambling.”