P1-M FILM OFFER FOR LEILA BARROS
By Al S. Mendoza

The Leila cult just refuses to die down.

Inspired by an unabashed show of adulation by sports fans bordering on fanaticism, Millennium Cinema, one of the country's biggest film outfits, offered Leila Barros a starring role in a film to be shot in the Philippines.

If plans don't miscarry, shooting starts after the Sydney Olympics on Oct. 1.

Barros, who will spearhead Brazil's bid in the Olympics, will receive P1 million for the film.

There is no definite theme yet but volleyball being a choice plot is on top of the agenda.

Barros, the 28-year-old superstar of the Brazilian volleyball team, almost single-handedly drew the crowds to the Philsports Arena during the recent World Women's Volleyball Grand Prix.

There were a total of 96 players from eight countries that saw action in the Grand Prix. But Leila stood out from the pack, virtually getting the lion's share insofar as fan appeal was concerned.

Kibitzers at the arena likened her popularity to that of Nora Aunor during the superstar's heyday.

Like Nora of the Sixties to the early Seventies, Leila was mobbed anywhere she went in the nearly two weeks that she was here. Her security escorts were almost no match to the fans, who would always devise ways and means to get close to their idol either for an autograph or a quick photo session. Just to be close to her gave them the thrill of their lives.

Despite being fielded in sparingly by coach Bernardo Rezende, thereby quickly getting the label killjoy by Barros fanatics, Leila finally wowed the crowd that jam-packed Philsports in Sunday's final with her all-around savvy and an amazing sex appeal that kept the fans, both male and female, awe-struck almost game-long.

Leila's team placed third behind Cuba and Russia but to the thousands who showed up at the arena, Leila was their champion of all-time.

''I can't believe that this is happening to me,'' Barros, speaking in Portuguese (Brazil's national language), said after Brazil's victory over China for third. ''I thought last year's Leilamania was just a flash in the pan.''

During the awarding ceremonies, the crowd would scream hysterically at a mere smile coming from the heart-shaped lips of Leila, standing in the middle of the arena together with the players from the four countries that figured in the Grand Finals.

When her name was called out announcing that she was voted Most Popular Player, Leila cried like she never cried before. She was simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of love showered on her.

Later in the dugout, she said, ''Never in my life have I imagined this will happen to me.''

And to Leila, even the film offer seemed like a dream.