Dunkin' Big Dunk beach volley unfolds

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 23 teams, including 13 in the girls division, will clash for top honors in the inaugural Dunkin’ Big Dunk high school beach volleyball tournament which gets going tomorrow at the University of the East sandcourts-Caloocan campus.

University of Santo Tomas, Hope Christian High School, Hope Mighty Sports and UE head the cast in the girls side of the 16-day tournament put up by Dunkin’ Donuts to boost the sport and discover young talents who could be tapped, developed and trained to become members of the national pool.

Philippine Sports commissioner Chito Loyzaga, PVF president Gener Dungo and Rachel Arroyo, Dunkin’ Donuts marketing services manager, will grace the opener of the event presented by the top international doughnut and coffee retailer and sponsored by Shakey’s, LBC, Toby’s Sports, Mikasa, Asics, Mighty Sports and Metro Sports.

Others in the fold are Grace Christian College, Elizabeth Seton School, St. James College-Parañaque, Harrell Horne Integrated School, St. James Academy-Malabon, International Christian Academy, De La Salle-Zobel, Graces Aces and St. James Anglers.

The 10-team field in the boys’ division of the event, sanctioned by the Philippine Volleyball Federation, includes GCC, ESS, SJC-P’que, HHS, UE, SJA, SJC-Malabon, Makati High School, St. Joseph College and Concepcion Elementary School.

DLS-Zobel and GCC kick off hostilities at 1 p.m. in the girls A while HHS and SJC-Parañaque slug it out at 1:45 p.m. in boys A. Other matches pit UST vs GA at 2:30 p.m. and ESS vs UE at 3:15 p.m. in girls B, ESS vs SJC-Malabon at 4 p.m. in boys B, and SJC-Parañaque vs HHS at 4:45 p.m. in girls A.

The field is divided into two groups with the top two teams after the single round elims advancing to the crossover semifinal round with the winners clashing for the crown. Matches are race-to-11, best-of-three sets and will use the rally point system.