FILE – The national beach volleyball team training in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte ahead of the Asian Volleyball Confederation Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in Thailand. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Phiippines — The Philippine beach volleyball team left for Thailand Sunday to compete in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup, which is an Olympic qualifying event where the top men and women’s teams will advance to Tokyo.
The two-day competition is on its second phase and will start on Friday, June 18, in Nakhon Pathom province.
This is the Philippines’ first international beach volleyball competition since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games wherein the country finished with bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.
“We are hoping for a strong finish for our men and women beach volleyball teams in this Olympic qualifier,” said Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation. “Our athletes are adequately prepared for the competition, having set up a training camp in Pagudpud since last month.”
Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons make up one of the two women’s pairs with Dij Rodriguez and Babylove Barbon comprising the other.
Mer Jauculan and Gen Eslapor are the reserves for the women’s teams.
Jaron Requinton and James Buytrago pair up in the men’s division while Jude Garcia and Anthony Arbasto are the other partnership. Ranran Abdilla and Philip Bagalay make up the reserves.
Rondina, who played in the 2014 Continental Cup, along with Pons and Rogriguez captured the bronze medal in the 2019 SEA Games with Dzi Gervacio, who won’t be going to Thailand because of a left knee injury.
Requinton, Buytrago and Garcia also captured bronze medals in the 2019 regional tiff.
The women’s team will face Japan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka with the top two teams advancing to the final phase that will be played on June 25 until the 27th.
The men’s sides will play Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan and Lebanon.
National coaches Paul Doloiras (women’s) and Rhovyl Verayo (men’s) will go with the team to Thailand along PNVF board member Charo Soriano.