Christmas Open caps beach volley year

MANILA, Philippines – Beach volley action resumes this weekend with 10 teams slugging it out for top honors in the Beach Volleyball Republic Christmas Open at the SM Mall of Asia By the Sands.

Former Ateneo star Charo Soriano, one of the founders of the tournament, will team up with Fil-Am Alexa Micek in the two-day tournament that will also feature the Fille Cainglet-Cayetano-Denden Lazaro tandem and the duo of Bea Tan and Brazilian Rupia Inck and the pair of Jannine Marciano and Bang Pineda.

Others seeing action are San Sebastian’s Julie Ann Tiangco and Mariel Sinamban, April Hingpit and Maica Morada, Judy Caballejo and Camille Abanto, Arielle Estranero and Vina Alinas, University of the Phl’s April Romero and Rose Cailing and UST’s Rica Rivera and Cherry Rondina.

“We expect thrilling matches this weekend,” said Soriano, who played with Micek as one of the country’s two representatives in the recent Spike for Peace at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Soriano said the event is part of their program not only to help promote the sport but also to discover talents from the provinces.

In fact, the same group will visit Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod City, Boracay, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Dapitan City, La Union and Cebu to further popularize the sport.

“This is more than a tournament or a beach volleyball event. Our goal is to really reach out to the provinces and spread the word that we have a chance to excel in this sport,” said Soriano.