Once again, summer’s most tea-tillating event

Every summer, only one beach party series matters. It’s the one with lots of sizzling hard-court action and even some body-slamming in between. It’s the one where the party to end all parties happens every night. And where the country’s favorite iced tea is served up to everyone’s indulgent delight. Of course, I’m talking about the Nestea Beach 2008!

This year, partners for the Nestea Beach 2008 included Havaianas, Speedo, Mikasa, Penshoppe, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, University of St. La Salle Bacolod, Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park, Crystal Sand Beach Resort, Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel, D’Mall, D’Boracay, Hey Jude Resort Hotel, Nautilus PJ Arañador Boracay, and Boracay Scuba. And as you might have guessed, nothing was spared in the name of another fun and exciting Nestea summertime.

The action started early. After all, the volleyball-pounding series that is Nestea Beach Volley always starts with a highly competitive series of semi-final matches that lead up to an almost-deadly championship match. For some time now, this has been going on in the most happening island of Boracay. Nestea Beach Volley 12 was no exception.

Nestea Beach Volley’s 12th year is this league’s most interesting and exciting yet. Fact is, it has just been declared by the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) as the first official beach volleyball tournament in the country. And no doubt, it is more challenging, more exciting, and a whole lot more fun!

Actually, the fun kicked up to an all-time high beginning April 24. That day, all the volley teams that were declared champions in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao started fighting it out to see who among them would advance further.

Among the teams and players this year were Edjet Mabbayad and Jerry Mabutol of Far Eastern University; Jhester Tuante and Gabriel Usman of Philippine Christian University with Aristian Sartin and Marcelo Joaquin, Jr. of the University of Perpetual Help-Dalta to round out the list of men from Luzon. Meanwhile, the Luzon volley women included Far Eastern University’s Wendy Ann Semana and Shaira Gonzalez; Adamson University’s Rizza Jane Laguilles and Angela Benting, along with Lyceum of the Philippines’ Dahlia Cruz and Syvie Gay Artales.

The men who represented the Visayas were James Ryan Rivera and Jonrey Sasing of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation; Rolando Agus and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University with Emmanuel Marlon Luces and Mark Sabusap of the University of St. La Salle Bacolod. Of course, joining these men in Boracay were the lovely volley women from the Visayas, namely Janez Armie Igot and Jusabelle Brillo of the University of Visayas with Janelle Tabio and Florian Gutierrez from Southwestern University as well as Herlene Ybarita and Erika Camille Verano from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

And of course, the player lineup would not be complete without the best volley teams from Mindanao. Meet the men: Capitol University’s Kiven Escobal and John Michael Vivares; University of Mindanao’s Tagumís Raquelito Tayabas and Rowell Fabian as well as Holy Cross of Davao College’s Allen Jay Sales and Celboy Atendido. Now, meet the tough and able volley women from Mindanao: Mylin Que and Liezl Manatad of the University of Mindanao-Tagum; Mykah Ramos and Aiza Armacion of the Holy Cross of Davao College as well as Maricel Cabus and Janice Arnaiz of the University of Mindanao-Davao.

Also picking up heat and action on the sand court were celebrity players Gabby dela Merced, Vicky Herrera, Einar Ingebristen, Will Devaughn, Riza Santos, Matt Evans, Melissa Ricks, Maggie Wilson, Lian Ramos, Victor Basa, Dawn Balagot with MYX VJs Sanya Smith and Drei Felix.

They all played intensely, they all played their best. Later in the day, they all found time to party! Parties are not just parties at the Nestea Beach 2008 event series. The first one was held at the La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel where Nestea’s B* On TV VJ Search winners Thistle Guevarra, Shenna Hernandez and Cheska Mempin took center stage and made the party sizzle. Cooling some of that party heat down was the all-new Nestea Ice Lolly, which was launched that night.

Then came the much-anticipated Nestea Beach fashion show at the Boracay Regency Hotel featuring unique pieces of Nautilus by PJ Arañador and the Penshoppe summer collection with guests Nikki Gil and Heart Evangelista. The following night, it was time for a chill-out party with Armand Tj and Boracay Republic along with the all-girl band Wake Up Your Seatmate at Summer Place. The party fever climaxed with a victory party at the Paraiso Bar with live performances from Parokya ni Edgar and upbeat, funky mixes from DJ Toy and DJ Marie.

The victory party was in honor of new Nestea Beach Volley champs Janelle Tabio and Florian Gutierrez of Southwestern University for the women’s, and Rolando Agus and Arnel Amadeo of Foundation University for the men’s. Southwestern University coach Janeth Ponte and Foundation University coach Dwight Essensio Sun both received a generous cash prize of P25,000 while the winning pairs received P100,000 each.

Indeed, loads of fun, loads of excitement, and loads of cash and prizes always await everyone at the Nestea Beach summer event series. See you next summer!