SSC opens title defense in 90th NCAA beach volleyball

SUBIC BAY – The NCAA, in partnership with The Lighthouse Marina Resort in Subic Bay, will host the 90th NCAA beach volleyball tournament unfolding Wednesday at the Baywalk inside Subic Bay in Olongapo City.

San Sebastian will defend the women's title it won last year with Shakey's V-League veteran Gretchel Soltones spearheading the campaign as she teams up with Denice Lim and Bea Uy.

One between Lim and Uy will try to fill the void left by Czarina Berbano, who was the other half of the Soltones-led team that went all the way the season ago.

College of St. Benilde, which will be spearheaded by power-hitting Johnvic de Guzman, will defend its men's crown while Arellano University seeks to retain the high school championship it copped last season.

Letran's athletic moderator Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, said he expects nothing less than exciting action in Subic.

"This will actually be the third time we're going here in Subic after we hold beach volley and basketball games here two seasons ago," said Calvo, who was with NCAA Management Committee chair Paul Supan of Jose Rizal and other board representatives when they did an ocular inspection of the venue recently.

Calvo said The Lighthouse Marina Resort, one of the best resort hotels in the Subic area, will make the event more meaningful as its sponsor.