10 teams confirm for 2nd M. Lhuillier beach volley

A total of 10 teams have already confirmed their participation in the 2nd M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala All-Ladies Beach Volley Open set to take off on March 2 at the Wiggy’s Beach Resort in Liloan, Cebu.

The formidable University of the Visayas (UV) tandem of Jusabelle Brillo and Janez Armie Igot will plunge back into action to defend the crown they snatched in last year’s maiden staging of the event by crushing the Southwestern University (SWU) duo of Janelle Tabio and Marites Natad.

Brillo and Igot went on to dominate the prestigious Nestea Beach Volley Season 10 in Boracay Island, making them the odds-on favorite to top the second edition of the M. Lhuillier beach volley tilt.

This time, though, the Raffy Briones-mentored UV belles are expected to meet tough opposition with SWU and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) fielding in two teams each.

Tabio, the “Darling of the Crowd” in the inaugural M. Lhuillier beach volley, and Florianne Guttierez will banner SWU Team A, while Lorie Mae Layno and Jessa Satina comprise SWU Team B.

Fighting under USJ-R’s wings are Genie Sabas and Aina “Popsie” Laroga. Cebu Sports Hall of Famer and USJ-R head coach Grace Antigua said she will reveal her other pair at the soonest possible time.

Also set to join the action are Mechelle Matuguina and Marissa Lagancia of Team Heartvit, Christine Rose Bohol and Marites Natad of Team Arthro, Kimberly Ybañez and Jeremie Montalbo of the University of San Carlos (USC), Ericka Verano and Herlene Ybarita of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and the tandem of Kennette Garces and Joy Bonita.

Event organizer and M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) executive director Eddie B. Ybañez and tournament manager Raul Gonzales announced in a meeting the other night at Pino! Filipino Cuisine that they are limiting the number of entries to only 16.

 Also, Ybañez assured the schedule of games won’t be in conflict with the beach volley event of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), which will conlude the 2007 season of the region’s premiere school-based athletic league.

Just like last year, the champion will receive P5,000, while the second and third will pocket P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.

Registration is for free. Interested parties may keep in touch with coach Eddie at 0926-7319004 or coach Raul at 0917-3337112 for further details. — EBV