Alas Pilipinas eyes podium in Asian beach volleyball tilt

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas eyes podium spots when the country hosts the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships starting November 5 at Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The Philippine women’s beach volleyball team will parade the Air Force duo of Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda, who reached the Round of 16 last summer.

The University of Santo Tomas tandem of Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara are also competing in the main draw of the 20-team women’s tournament, where the eight other squads will go through qualifiers, according to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) president Tats Suzara.

READ: PH women’s beach volleyball team sees action in AVC tilts in

A third Alas pair, Philippine Army’s Alexa Polidario and Coast Guard’s Jenny Gaviola, will fight for a spot in the main draw as they compete in the qualifying tournament of the six-day event.

Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic of Australia defend their title after ruling the AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open in April.

Jasmine Fleming, who wound up with the silver medal with Georgia Johnson in April, will now team up with Elizabeth Alchin.

In men’s action, Alas will be fielding Southeast Asian Games veterans Ran Abdilla and James Buytrago.

Rancel Varga, who earned the silver medal with Buytrago in the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in April, teams up with Lerry John Francisco in the 20-team main draw.

Former University of Perpetual Help star Ronniel Rosales and ex-National University stalwart Edwin Tolentino will compete in the qualifiers 

Nineteen pairs are confirmed for the qualifying phase, fighting for the four open slots in the main draw.