Mindanao beach volley eliminations today

DAVAO , Philippines  – Action in the 2009 Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit picks up today with the three-day Mindanao eliminations at the Tagum Beach Volley Dome at Rotary Park.

In the history of this annual Nestea event, only one team from Mindanao has emerged national champion when Mindanao State University won the men’s title in Boracay in 2007.

This year, 11 men’s and 10 women’s teams will see action in the Mindanao leg, all of them hoping to earn slots to the more exciting Boracay stage on May 6-9.

The competing schools are Agusan Institute of Technology, Ateneo de Davao, Capitol, DMMA College of Southern Philippines, Holy Cross of Davao College, Jose Maria College, Mahardika Institute of Technology, Mindanao State U-Main, Mindanao State U-Tawi-Tawi, University of Mindanao-Davao, University of Mindanao-Tagum and Xavier University.

The top three teams in both divisions will make it to Boracay where this year’s champions will earn P100,000 in prize money, and the bragging rights as the finest in the land.

The Luzon elims were held earlier this month at the SM Mall of Asia Bay Area where Far Eastern University bagged the men’s title, and Adamson winning the women’s crown.

FEU and Adamson are former national champions, winning the men’s and women’s titles in 1999 and 2002, respectively.

Luzon teams that also earned trips to Boracay in May are Letran and San Beda in the men’s side; and FEU and the University of the Cordilleras in the women’s section.

The Visayas elims are set April 16-18 at Parkmall in Mandaue City in Cebu. Last year’s champions, Foundation U (men) and Southwestern U (women) hail from the Visayas.

This year’s sponsors 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.   – Abac Cordero