VOLLEYBALL GRAND PRIX AN OLYMPIC PREVIEW

An Olympic preview.

That's what's in store for the country's volleyball fans next month when the country hosts for the second straight year the World Women's Volleyball Grand Prix at the Philsports in Pasig City.

Since last year's tournament was a smash hit, this year's edition is an event not to be missed.

"We will have seven of eight top volleyball-playing nations which qualified for the Sydney Olympics in September," said Benny Gopez, Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association chair, at the PSA forum yesterday at the Holiday Inn Manila. ''If you think you had the thrill of your life last year watching the Grand Prix, think again. This year's edition promises to be doubly exciting and action-packed.''

Gopez appeared in the PSA forum sponsored by Agra, Red Bull and McDonald's together with Philippine Sports Commission chair Carlos Tuason and Ramon Suzara, a ranking Filipino technical official of the International Volleyball Federation.

Both Gopez and Tuason said that world volleyball officials were impressed by last year's organization of the Grand Prix, which was chaired then as now by San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada.

"Even the cable sports network ESPN said that we had the best crowd of all in last year's World Grand Prix series," Gopez said.

Top-ranked and defending champion Russia heads the cast of the prestigious tournament, beginning with the preliminary leg on Aug. 18-20 and the semifinals and finals on Aug. 24-27.

Russia will be challenged by Italy, Korea and Brazil -- which will be bannered again by crowd darling Leila Barros -- will vie in the Manila preliminary leg, after which they will be joined by the United States, China, Cuba and Japan in the final stage.

Only Japan missed earning a ticket to the Sydney Summer Games in September.

Gopez said Filipino fans can expect a lot of exciting volleyball action-and more eye-pleasers like Italians Maurizia Cacciatori and Francesca Piccinini and Americans Stacy Sykora and Danielle Scott.

Russians Elena Godina and Liobov Chachkova, Gopez said, are not only outstanding players but lookers as well while the Cubans are expected to perform in their skin-tight, swimsuit-like uniforms.

For his part, Tuason said tight security measures will be enforced to ensure the safety and welfare of both players and fans alike during the competitions.

"We want everyone to know that we will be very strict as far as security is concerned. Everybody involved will have proper identification cards, including media, and they will have limited access depending on the positions they have," Tuason said.