INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Mindanao State University and University of the Visayas are back to defend their Nestea Beach Volleyball crowns against teams from more than 43 colleges and universities nationwide.

The beach volley national circuit, sanctioned by the Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF), has attracted 72 teams for the three-city elimination that will lead to the April 24-26 semifinal and final rounds in Boracay.

The Tagum Beach Volley Drome at the Rotary Park in Davao opens hostilities on March 4-6 with Mindanao teams vying for finals slots.

On March 25-27, action shifts to the Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Cavite for the Luzon teams while the April 8-10 qualifying for Visayas squads will be held at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod.

The winning teams that will go to Boracay will vie for the top prize of P150,000 each for the men’s and women’s divisions.

Second placers get P75,000 each while the third placers will receive P40,000 apiece.

Inaugural season (1997) men’s division winner University of Santo Tomas spearheads the Luzon cast composed of Adamson University, Letran College, College of St. Benilde, De La Salle-Dasmariñas, defending UAAP champion Far Eastern University, Lyceum, PATTS College of Aeronautics, Philippine Christian University, St. Francis of Assisi College, St. Jude College, St. Louis University, San Beda College Alabang, San Beda College, University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, University of Luzon, University of the Perpetual Help-Dalta and University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Representing Visayas are Colegio Purisima Concepcion, Foundation University, Iloilo Doctors College, Southwestern University, University of Iloilo, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, University of San Agustin, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and UV.

Strutting their wares in Mindanao are teams from Agusan Institute of Technology, Ateneo de Davao University, Capitol University, Holy Cross of Davao College, Jose Maria College, Maharlika Institute of Technology, MSU-Marawi, MSU-Tawi-Tawi, Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College, University of Mindanao-Tagum, Universidad de Zamboanga, Xavier University and MSU.