Nestea beach volley unwraps in Boracay

BORACAY, Philippines   â€“ Central Philippines University shoots for a three-peat in the women’s division while University of the Visayas guns for a title-repeat in the men’s side as the national finals of the 16th Nestea Beach Volleyball fires off today in this paradise island.

Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Mae Ceballos team up anew after successfully topping last year’s  event with a 21-18, 21-18 win over Southwestern U’s Danika Yolanda Gendrauli and Raphril Aguilar, upbeat in their chances for a third straight championship against an equally talented 22-team field.

But Gonzaga and Ceballos are coming off a mediocre third-place finish in the combined Visayas and Mindanao regional eliminations behind University of Tagum’s Lourdilyn Catubag and Karen Kay Quilario and SWU’s Gendrauli and Aguilar in Cebu’s scenic Moalboal beach recently.

The Catubag-Quilario pair toppled the Gendrauli-Aguilar tandem, 21-18, 21-18, to rule the Cebu meet.

Also tipped to contend for this year’s crown are UST’s Maruja Banaticla and Jody Caballero, who booked a return flight to Boracay after an impressive finish in the Luzon qualifiers along with Perpetual Laguna’s Jessica Curato and Elaine Kasilag, Adamson’s Shiela Marie Pineda and Pau Soriano, Lyceum’s Amina Castillo and Jozza Cabalza, La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Iari and Iumi Yongco and La Salle-Taft’s Jeushl Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo.

Also making the final cut are University of Mindanao-Tagum, Central Phl U, Jose Maria College, University of Southern Phl and University of San Carlos.

UV’s Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria , set out to duplicate their 21-16, 21-19 victory over University of San Jose de Recoletos’ Jade Illut and Jason Uy.

But out to foil UV’s bid are Mindanao State U-Tawi Tawi, USJR, University of Southern Phl Foundation, University of Mindanao-Tagum and Holy Cross of Davao College.

The National Capital Region will be represented by Letran’s Erickson Joseph Ramos and Rudy Gatdula, who ruled the NCR-Luzon leg, La Salle-Dasma’s Aldrin Bin and Hudri Kona, Arellano U’s Jophius Christian Banang and John Carlo Lozada, Perpetual Laguna’s John Joven Javier and John Philip Nuñez, Adamson’s John Hendrizx Competente and Gilbert Longavela and Calayan Educational Foundation’s Joerge Cartney Pantoja and Jomari Joshua Herrera.