Nestea Beach Volleyball starts at CCP today

The fifth Nestea Beach Volley University Challenge unfolds today with over a hundred teams from more than 40 colleges and universities nationwide expected to converge at the makeshift beach venue inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex.

The winners in this annual tilt, formerly the Nestea Inter-collegiate Beach Volleyball tournament, advance to the semifinal and the championship rounds which will be held in Boracay from April 21-28.

This five-day event is the first offering of the "Nestea Loves the Beach" project, the biggest program in years by Nestea Ice Tea, with the other two to be staged also at the CCP grounds.

The first Nestea Beach Volley National Open is set March 8-10 while the second Nestea Asian Beach Volley Women’s Championship, the first leg of the Asian Beach Volleyball Council circuit, is scheduled March 30-April 1 also at the same venue.

San Sebastian College’s tandem of Sheryl Tumayao and Jennifer Buhawe topped last year’s finals and a repeat performance this year will ensure them of a slot in the National Open next year.

Letran College won last year’s men’s division although it is expected to have a tough time this year after losing the tandem of Gino Macaylan and Marvin Gotangogan to graduation.

Sexy star Isabel Granada, expected to be the event’s top crowd-drawer, showcases another of her many talents other than acting as she plays for PATTS College, which missed the cut last year. — Joey Villar