Nestea National beach volley underway

The 2001 National Beach Volleyball Open Championship where some of the country’s top volleyball players are expected to participate will unfold beginning today at the CCP complex with 32 squads expected to see action.

Unlike the Nestea Beach Volleyball University Challenge last month which was participated in by the best collegiate volleyball can offer, the National Open features the country’s top volleyball players, including members of the national indoor volleyball training pool and campaigners in the Asian Beach Volleyball Circuit.

Bankrolled by RP’s major proponent of the sport, Nestea Ice Tea, this three-day event is the second offering of this year’s "Nestea Loves the Beach" project following February’s Nestea Beach Volleyball University Challenge, which will be concluded April 21-22 in plush Boracay.

The champion in the women’s side gains a slot in the second Nestea Asian Beach Volleyball Women’s Championship set from March 30 to April 1 also at the CCP Complex.

Tony Liao, vice president of the Philippine Amateur Volleyball Association and chairman of the Asian Beach Volleyball Council, said the coming event is the kickoff leg of this year’s Asian Beach Volleyball Circuit.

Some of the top volleyball players to watch in the men’s side are Elvis Pabilonia, Parley Tupaz and the power-hitting Herminio Gallo, formerly a member of the Far Eastern University team which won three straight UAAP titles late in the 90s.

Johanna Botor, half of the team which won back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1999 for University of Santo Tomas, on the other hand, leads the distaff side while beauteous Ivy Remulla of Dela Salle, which made it to the quarter finals in Boracay last year, is expected to be the event’s top crowd-drawer. - Joey Villar

Also supporting this meet are Speedo, Asian Spirit, Mikasa, Westin Philippine Plaza, Milo, Nescafe Frothe, Astring-O-Sol, Dunkin Donuts, Boracay Resorts Galaxy, Titay South Beach, Boracay Gold Crowne Club, Crystal Sand, Alyssa, Carribo, Gorio’s Cafe and Floremar Pizzeria de Mario Ristorante Italiano. – Joey Villar