The Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI) Sportsfest 2024 culminated on July 21, 2024, at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) along Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
Featuring 33 participants from various hotels and resorts in Cebu competing in multiple sports, the event promoted sportsmanship and camaraderie within Cebu’s hospitality industry. It offered its members the chance to show their athletic skills. The biennial sports fest is held throughout June and July, with eliminations and semi-finals occurring prior to the grand culmination day.
The culmination day featured the highly anticipated basketball championship, the West vs. East All-Star Game, the Mr. and Ms. HRRACI Sportsfest 2024 pageant, and the crowning of the Queen of HRRACI Sportsfest 2024.
Seda Central Bloc Cebu joined the HRRACI Sportsfest for the first time and bagged championships in four sports events: basketball, volleyball men’s and women’s, and athletics (50-meter dash run for women). Seda finished as 2nd runner-up at the bowling tournament held at SM City Cebu last July 1 and placed 1st runner-up for men’s doubles at the badminton tournament held at Metro Sports last July 17–18.
On July 21, the hotel triumphed as the first runner-up in dodgeball, HRRACI’s newest addition to the 2024 sports fest. Seda also finished as first runner-up in the athletics (100-meter dash run for women) and second runner-up in the (50-meter dash run for men) and cheer dance competitions.
Seda CBC General Manager Ron Manalang appreciated Seda’s achievements and the camaraderie shared with other HRRACI participants. He mentioned that Seda CBC had invested significant resources in the sports fest and was grateful for the positive outcomes resulting from their thorough preparations.
“It’s a good time to get together among all other hotels, and this is very healthy in terms of camaraderie with the participating brands not only in Cebu City but also the resorts,” Ron Manalang, General Manager of Seda Central Bloc Cebu, said in an interview.
“It’s the first time that we joined, so this is our maiden year. This is very important for us because it gives us a chance to market and build sportsmanship and camaraderie in all events,” Manalang added.
New Kings of the Court
Showing remarkable end-game poise, the Seda Central Bloc basketball team brought home its first basketball game trophy after defeating Shangri-la Mactan Cebu. In a thrilling game, Seda CBC garnered 89 points, ending Shangri-la Mactan’s four-year reign as the Sportsfest’s basketball champion. Shangri-la amassed 80 points.
A total team effort energized Seda to topple the defending champion. Seda CBC’s player number 16, Steve Castro, is named Best Player. Castro expressed his gratitude towards his team and Seda’s management.
“Mapasalamatun ko sa among management, sa among coach, sa akong teammates sa pagsalig nila nako. Na best player ko tungod sa among team efforts,” Castro said.
Home of MVPs and Champions
During the HHRACI’s culmination, the volleyball championship took place. Seda CBC achieved back-to-back wins in the Volleyball Men’s and Women’s Double categories. Seda’s Luis Bartolome and Crisha Omagac were named the Most Valuable Players in their respective categories.
In the highly anticipated cheer dance competition, Seda Central Bloc Cebu’s dance squad was impressed with their daring “Top Gun”-inspired costume and performance. Their stellar dance moves earned them the 3rd spot in the competition. Seda CBC’s Gee-mar Lariosa and Klarika Noval competed in the Mr. and Ms. HRRACI Sportsfest, wearing matching red and white Dodgers-based uniforms.
Additionally, HHRACI introduced the dodgeball game to its line of sports events. Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu emerged as the champion of the inaugural dodgeball competition, followed by Seda CBC and Shangri-la Mactan.
HRRACI is spearheaded by its president, Alfred Reyes, the vice president for operations and general manager of Bai Hotel Cebu, and executive vice president Carlo Anton Suarez, the general manager of Cebu Grand Hotel, who has also served as the chairman of the HRRACI Sportsfest 2024.
The Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu, Inc. (HRRACI) is a non-profit, non-government organization serving the hospitality industry, particularly the rooms and food & beverage enterprise.