Nestea launches national beach volley

As summer nears, the much-awaited Nestea Beach Volley is also set to begin with elimination matches for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao scheduled next month at La Salle Greenhills.

A total of 48 pairs representing 33 colleges and universities nationwide will begin their hunt for the coveted Nestea crown and the record prizes which organizers have put on the event’s 11th year.

The Luzon eliminations are set March 21-22, Visayas on March 27-28 and Mindanao on March 29-30. Four men’s and women’s teams from each leg will advance to the Boracay finals on April 19-21.

Once again, huge cash prizes await the winners from both divisions. From P100,000 last year, this year’s men’s and women’s champions will get P150,000 each on top of the bragging rights.

The coaches of the champion teams will also receive P50,000, making this year’s edition the biggest so far in the colorful history of the Nestea Beach Volley, one of the country’s hottest summer events.

"We have very competitive teams raring to prove themselves worthy of the title," said Nestle AVP and Nestea consumer marketing manager Tina Samaco in yesterday’s official launch in Makati.

Second-placers will get P75,000 each and third-placers P40,000 each. All games will be sanctioned by the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB.

Adamson University bagged the men’s title last year while St. Benilde ruled the women’s side. It doesn’t come often that teams from Luzon emerge as the champions in both divisions.

Other Luzon teams vying this year are La Salle-Dasmariñas, Far Eastern U, Letran, Lyceum, Philippine Christian U, St. Francis of Assisi, San Sebastian, University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, University of Luzon, University of the Philippines and Santo Tomas.

The Visayas will be represented by Foundation U, Iloilo Doctors College, Southwestern U, University of Negros Occ. Recoletos, St. La Salle-Bacolod, University of San Agustin, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Southern Philippines and University of the Visayas.

From Mindanao it will be Capitol University, Holy Cross of Davao College, Mahardika Institute of Technology, Mindanao State U, Mindanao State U-Marawi, Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College, University of Mindanao-Davao, University of Mindanao-Tagum and Western Mindanao State U.

The Nestea Beach Volley 11 is sponsored by Speedo, Mikasa, Villa de Oro Boracay, Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel, Boracay Gold Crowne Club, Microtel Inns and Suites Boracay, Hey! Jude @ D’Malll, D’Mall D’Boracay, La Salle Greenhills, Shcering Plough Coppertone and Crystal Sand.