Skill, beauty in FIVB tilt

Brazilian Leila Barros. AFP PHOTO

The coming FIVB Women’s Club Championship promises to be a display not just of high-caliber volleyball players but of world-class beauties as well.

In the 2000 World Grand Prix held in the country, volleyball fans went gaga over Brazilian Leila Barros, whose combination of beauty and fierceness on the court enthralled Filipinos

Now fans are anticipating the arrival of a brand new batch of volleyball goddesses. Team Volero Zurich of Switzerland, slated to arrive last night, will be led by wing spiker Mariana Andrade Costa.

The 30-year-old Costa, who is also known as Mari Paraiba, is one of the favorites both in the skills and looks department.

A former Playboy model, the 5-foot-11 Costa is also a former beach volleyball player and longtime mainstay of the Brazil national team.

The arrival of 6-foot-5 middle blocker Thaisa Daher Pallesi of Eczasibasi Vitra Istanbul is also highly anticipated in the Oct. 18 to 23 meet at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Pallesi, 29, is actually from Brazil and was part of the squad that ruled the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Grand Prix in 2013.

Also suiting up for Eczasibasi is Turkish “Iron lady” Neslihan Demir, a 33-year-old opposite spiker who is one of the sport’s most recognizable faces.

The 6-foot-1 Demir was Turkey’s flag-bearer during the 2012 Olympics. She is married to an actor, Kamil Guler.

Vakifbank Istanbul’s Naz Aydemir is also expected to turn heads. The 6-foot setter is an Olympian for Turkey.

But unlike in the past, there will be Filipinos playing on the big stage.

And F2 Logistics-PSL Manila will have its own set of beauties in Filipino  “It Girls” Rachel Anne Daquis, Mika Reyes and Jovelyn Gonzaga.

Joining them is 21-year-old Yevgeniya Nyukhalova.