Beach volley pushes for four teams to Doha

The RP beach volleyball team is hoping the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will change its mind and allow the inclusion of not just two but four outdoor volleyball squads to the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

Head coach Rustico ‘Otie’ Camangian made the appeal in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the main function room of the Pantalan Restaurant in Manila

"In behalf of the Philippine Volleyball Federation, we are appealing to the POC as well as the Asian Games Task Force to allow our two other teams to participate in the Asian Games," said Camangian in the public sports program sponsored by PAGCOR, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and MASCO chairman Arnold "Ali" Atienza.

Camangian said the country has a good chance of bagging a medal in the beach volleyball competitions of the December 1-15 quadrennial meet.

Only the the women’s pair of Fil-American’s Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua and the men’s duo of Rhovyl Verayo and Parley Tupaz had been given the approval by the POC to be included in the Philippine delegation.

But Camangian appealed in behalf of the women’s pair of Michelle Laborte and Nerrisa Bautista and the men’s team of Fil-Ams Chad Mowrey and Justin Schnor, whose expenses will be undertaken by the Beach Volleyball Association of the Philippines.

"Based on the handbook an NSA can send two teams per gender. But due to limited budget only two teams were approved for the Asian Games by the POC. So we are appealing for the two other teams to go even if we have to pay for their stints because we feel they have a good chance to medal in the event, " said Camangian in Filipino.

The volleyball coach said Ilustre and Pascua are currently competing in the Korean Beach Volley challenge where powerhouse teams like China, Japan and Korea are also seeing action.