PSL launching beach volley tilt

Riding the crest of the country’s volleyball craze, the Philippine Superliga will launch a beach volleyball league in 2015.

Superliga president Ramon “Tats” Suzara confirmed this yesterday, saying the league will be held in a newly built beach volleyball court at the Mall of Asia complex.

The beach volleyball legs are tentatively scheduled on May 21 to 24 and Sept. 24 to 27, according to Suzara, who helped the PSL gain fame by bringing together the country’s top spikers to play for leading corporate clubs.

But unlike the existing summer beach volley tournaments which are held in outdoor courts, Suzara said they will try to attract bigger audiences by holding the matches at night.

He said they expect more people to troop to evening matches where they don’t have to watch play under the sun. The schedule would also allow office workers to watch the matches after work.

Suzara said they will ask all PSL teams to field in the finest and prettiest players to entice more crowd in what is already considered a big spectator sport in the country.

Among the hottest indoor players who also play beach volleyball is Army superstar Jovelyn Gonzaga, a former national beach volley stalwart.

Also expected to make the tournament are certified PSL crowd darlings Shiela Marie Pineda, Pau Soriano, Wensh Tiu and Maru Banaticla.