Doria eye volleyball title

By LESLIE OMARO
REIGNING champions Doria have set their eyes on defending the Nick and Bonney Allan Cup when the annual volleyball tournament kicks off on Monday.
The Nick and Bonney Allan Cup will be hosted by the Tatana Araira Amateur Volleyball Association and will feature the open men’s, open women’s, under 19 boys and girls divisions.
Doria defeated Porebada in the open men’s final last year and are looking to have another shot at the grand final.
Doria’s big guns Freddy Noah, Richard Batari, Bobby Batari, Bobby Rarua, Ake Walo, Bobby Gaigo and Resena Guba will be backing up their campaign.
Noah, the Batari brothers, Rarua, Walo and Resena were part of the Tatana open’s men’s team which finished as runner-ups in last year’s national volleyball championships.
The six representative players also travelled to Canberra last year for an overseas tournament.
Their experience in playing in national and international tournaments will come in handy when they set out to maintain their supremacy in the season opener.
Ake Walo who raised national selectors’ eyebrows at the national championships will be Doria’s key player.
The pain of losing the Tatana open’s men title to Houra in the grand final last year will also be a motivating factor.
The former champions will be using that to win the pre-season tournament and get the new season underway.
TAAVA president George Daera said the registration for a team was K120.
Daera said three village teams Mahuru, Kirakira and Tubusereia were also interested in participating.
“I am expecting more than 40 teams with the inclusion of the three new village teams to compete,” Daera said.
He said Fong from Hanuabada, Daugo from Fisherman Island, Vanama, Porebada, Elevala, Pom Tech and teams from Tatana village would be returning to have another crack.
“I am anticipating a huge turnout,” Daera said.
John Iamo, who is assisting the TA’AVA president organise the Nick and Bonney Allan Cup, said teams registration forms can be picked up at Tatana village.
“Teams should come to the village and see Udia Opau to pick up their registration forms and at same time pay their fees,” he said.