A slew of Filipino talent will represent the Philippines in the upcoming FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open at SM Sands By the Bay.
The champions teams from the Beach Volleyball Republic will have the Philippine flag on their gear when they compete in the men’s and women’s divisions of the one-star FIVB tournament scheduled from May 3-6.
There will be eight Filipino teams, four for each division, which have a chance to show how far the country has come when it comes to the sport in the first FIVB beach volleyball event in the country.
Soriano, who founded BVR with Tan, Gretchen Ho, Fille Cainglet-Cayetano, Gervacio, and Alexa Micek, said seeing local talents in the World Tour is a testament of to the hard work of the Filipinos who dreamt of putting beach volleyball into the public’s consciousness.
“We’re very excited because we fulfilled our passion and that is evident right now,” said Soriano during the press conference Thursday at Coconut Club in Bonifacio Global City.
“It’s been very rewarding for us players… and I hope this becomes a step to creating national training pool,” added Tan.
Jade Becaldo and Calvin Sarte of the men’s division champions Team Ato Ni Bai earned are the top male talents for the Philippines in the World Tour with Kevin Juban and Raphy Abanto of Team UV, Randan Abdilla and Edwin Tolentino of Air Force, and KR Guzman and Henry Pecaña of Team Tigers.
Reigning champion Team Tagum-PNP, composed of Lourdilyn Catubag and Karen Quilario, Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño of Team Ilo-Ilo, Soriano and Tan of Seafront Residences, and the team of Dzi Gervacio and Cherry Rondina complete the women’s contingent of the Philippines.
Twelve teams were drawn in the men’s division and 16 for the women’s division and the Philippines, being the host of the tournament, was given four slots each.
The champion team, for both the male and female categories, will receive $1,000 with the second and third placers receiving $700 and $500, respectively.