Visayas qualifying of Nestea beach volley blasts off today

CEBU, Philippines - The battle for supremacy in the Visayas leg of the 15th Nestea Beach Volley gets underway today at the HK Resort in Moalboal, Cebu’s premiere diving spot and tourist destination.

It’s no less a showdown among the best as teams from the Visayas region have been dominating the national stage of the prestigious tournament for the past 15 years.

“Other regions looked up to Visayas as the team to beat. Hopefully, we can get the best representatives for the region in the national finals,” said Ricky Ballesteros, the event’s regional coordinator.

Ballesteros said whether the top three finishers in both divisions will come from Cebu or not, he is confident that the Visayan teams will make waves in the grand finale.

“When it comes to beach volley, Visayas teams especially from Cebu are really a force to reckon with. It’s been proven and tested for many years already. We were able to produce many national champions and hopefully we can have another one this year,” Ballesteros added.

A dozen teams led by defending champion Foundation University (FU) of Dumaguete City will vie for top honors in the men’s division. FU is manned by Glen Ventolero and Michael John Acain.

The other title contenders in the men’s division are Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria (University of the Visayas), Kennith Bensig and Bon Vincent Estrera (University of San Carlos), Jade Illiut and Jason Uy (University of San Jose-Recoletos), Christopher Ryan Abut and Edward Ybanez (University of Southern Philippines Foundation) and Giovannie Gutierrez and Jason Panangin (University of Cebu).

Aside from FU, the other out-of-town entries are Jason James Palma and Izrah Hernando (University of San Agustin—Iloilo), Roelene Inaudito and Kerwin Reje (University of St. La Salle-Bacolod), Mark Hojilla and Marheen Bendecio (University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos), Hans Erich Yu and Kohn Kenny Amar (Central Philippines University-Iloilo), Michael Basa and Jan Mhar Basinang (Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion-Iloilo) and Arden Doromal and Eleazar Genisan (John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Iloilo).

In the women’s bracket, 11 squads will slug it out for the coveted crowd.

The Cebu bets are Danika Yolanda Gendrauli and Lori Mae Layno (Southwestern University), Chona Gesulga and Suzette Panis (USC), Ma. Abegail Praca and Regin Obinque (USJ-R), and Apple Eve Saraum and Rochelle Rica (USPF).

The contending squads from outside Cebu are Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Mae Ceballos of CPU, Sarah Jane Tanilon and Catherine Mortula (FU), Sheryl June Denila and Patty Jane Orendain (USLS-Bacolod), Ruby Casipe and Jennifer Cosas (UNO-R), Rodelyn Colas and Elinor Bermejo (CPC), Sarah Mae Basarte and Kimberly Ann Golosino (University of Bohol), and Analie Canete and Mary Ann Litub (Bohol Institute of Technology).

The top three winners in each division will proceed to the National Finals penciled from April 19 to 21 in Boracay Island. The overall champions will pocket P100,000 apiece. - THE FREEMAN