Luzon teams eye berths in Nestea Fit volley finals under way

MANILA, Philippines - The Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit, dubbed as the hottest local sporting event this summer, fires off today with the Luzon eliminations at the SM Mall of Asia Bay Area.

An improvised sandcourt that was put at the Bay Area as early as last week will serve as the stage for the three-day eliminations among 18 school-based teams from Luzon.

The top Luzon teams will make it to the Boracay stage on May 6-9 with the men’s and women’s champions getting P100,000 each. Runner-up is worth P65,000 and third P35,000.

The Mindanao leg is set March 26-28 at the Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, and the Visayas leg slated April 16-18 at Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu.

While the Luzon and Mindanao legs are expected to be tough, focus will remain on the Visayas section where last year’s men’s and women’s champions come from.

Foundation U was men’s champion and Southwestern U the women’s champion in 2008. FU was also men’s titlist in 2001, and SWU the women’s tilist in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Far Eastern U, the back-to-back men’s champion in Luzon, will pin their hopes on the brand-new tandem of Joshua Alcarde and Jan Berlin Paglinawan.

Adamson, also a two-time Luzon champion in the women’s side, will lean on Angela Benting and her new partner Lizlee Ann Gata. FEU’s Ana Abanto and Marigail Tolentino, the reigning UAAP beach volley champions, will give them a run for their money.

This year’s sponsores are Ipanema, Speedo, Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu, L’Oreal Paris Elseve, Nautilus by PJ Arañador, Mikasa, D’Mall D’Boracay, Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park, Hey! Jude Resort, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, La Carmela de Boracay Resort Hotel and Crystal Sand Beach Resort.

Other Luzon schools vying for honors are Letran, St. Benilde, La Salle-Dasmarinas, La Salle Taft, Lyceum-Batangas, Lyceum-Manila, NCBA, PCU, San Beda-Alabang, San Beda Manila, St. Louis University, University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, UE, University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and UP.

Finishing second and third in the men’s side last year were University of Southern Philippines Foundation and La Salle-Bacolod; and in the women’s side University of the Visayas and University of Mindanao-Davao.