Nestea volleys hard and parties even harder

The best time to visit Boracay is not based on the season. It is neither based on the cheapness of the airfare nor the discounts numerous resorts give. The best time to be in this enchanting island is when cheers are loudest, parties are in full swing, and sand court action is at its ultimate high. Don’t even think for a second that these divine elements can never come together because you can have it all at the Nestea Beach Volley.

Now in its ninth year, Nestea is determined to go all out and loud! Needless to say, the volley action is more intense than ever with more and more players determined to be crowned champions of the sand court.

Nestea Beach Volley 2005 launched its yearly competition last April. La Salle Greenhills played host to a whopping 72 teams that represented 44 colleges and universities for this year’s volley matches. From such a huge volleyball delegation, only 24 made it to the white-sanded Boracay. Once again, this Philippine paradise was home to fantastic sand court action, which took place last May 5-7. With this volley series island bound, only 18 colleges and universities managed to bag a spot in the semi-finals. From here, they were to serve, block and spike their way to the finals, where the top three teams were to receive some of the greatest prizes.

Grand-winning men and women were to be awarded a trophy, along with a cash prize of P100,000. Moreover, respective schools of the 2005 champions would also be awarded a trophy, along with P50,000 worth of sports equipment. Meanwhile, the second and third place winners would also be receiving a trophy, along with cash prizes of P50,000 and P25,000 respectively.

Vying for these wonderful prizes this year were a troupe of highly competitive teams, most of which have never failed to show what they are all about for quite some time now. Coming from Luzon were the volley men from Far Eastern University, College of St. Benilde, Adamson University, and St. Francis of Assisi College. Meanwhile, the volley women of Luzon came from Far Eastern University and College of St. Benilde, with the addition of Philippine Christian University-Manila and University of Baguio.

The Visayas teams proved to be tough competitors as the women’s division included two-time defending champion South Western University and 2004’s runner-up University of Visayas. They were joined by University of San Jose-Recoletos and Foundation University. On the men’s side, defending champion University of San Jose- Recoletos made an anticipated return, together with University of San Carlos, University of Negros Occidental- Recoletos, and University of Southern Philippines.

Mindanao teams were also determined to win this year. Their volley men came from Mindanao State University, University of Mindanao-Tagum, Ateneo de Davao University, and University of Mindanao Davao. The women’s teams also came from University of Mindanao-Tagum, Mindanao State University, and University of Mindanao Davao. Meanwhile, rounding up the women’s Mindanao representatives was the team from Holy Cross of Davao College.

The semi-finals action was very intense, especially leading up to the grand finals. A game between defending women’s champion Southwestern University and Foundation University showed just that. While Foundation University fought hard, it was a clear case of too-little-too-late as Southwestern University won, ending the game at 14-21. This impressive level of play continued as the finals matches kept getting closer and closer as the days went by. Unquestionably, everyone played their hearts out under the intense heat of the sun, which fiercely shone through the sand court day after day. It might not have kept the games from being held, but it did impact the pre-finals outcome.

Having an intense fight on an intensely hot morning were the male players from University of San Juan-Recoletos (USJR) and University of Mindanao-Tagum (UM-T) who had to go to a third set to break the tie. In the end, however, only one of them can compete for first or second place and defending champion USJR once again battles for the championship. Meanwhile, College of St. Benilde (CSB) also gained a seat in the finals. Interestingly, the two are the same men who faced each other in the finals last year as former DLSU player Janley Patrona moved to CSB and impressively stood out once again in this year’s volley action along with team mate Arnold Laniog. At the same time, last year’s winning volley man Jonrey Sasing is joined by Joseph Alguno on the sandcourt.

The women’s division matches were just as intense, especially the battle between Southwestern University (SWU) and University of Visayas (UV). University of Visayas’ Joyce Nuñez collapsed on the sandcourt and had to be taken out of the game. It was speculated that her unfortunate condition was due to a combination of heat stroke and leg cramps. At the time, the score was 15-18 in favor of SWU, but because it was certain the hardworking Nuñez could no longer return to the court, SWU was declared winner, getting them one step closer to a chance to become a three-time defending champion.

Another battle for the finals in the women’s side took place between University of San Juan Recoletos (USJR) and University of Mindanao-Tagum (UM-T). Overall, it was a close fight with leads changing all the time and competing teams ahead of each other by only one point most of the time. In the end though, UM-T claimed the second finals seat as they ended the game with 21-19. Interestingly, UM-T’s team of Liezl Manatad and Mylin Que also made Nestea history as the first Mindanao team to make it to the finals.

It didn’t take long before the much anticipated finals went underway. First up were the women of UM-T who came face-to-face with two-time defending champions SWU, which is composed of Florian Gutierrez and Marites Natad.

It became clear that SWU had their eyes fixed on a third championship title and they would not let anything get in the way. It didn’t take long before it became clear that SWU was bound for another championship title and they soon ended the match at 21-14 while UM-T took the second place. The remaining teams occupied the third to 12th rankings in the following order: University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of Visayas, Foundation University, College of St. Benilde, University of Mindanao-Davao, Holy Cross of Davao College, Far Eastern University, Philippine Christian University-Manila, University of Baguio, and Mindanao State University- Tawi Tawi.

The men’s final match was just as exciting. It didn’t take long before CSB claimed victory, having already scored 21 while USJR only managed to get 16, putting them in second place. In the meantime, the rest of the men’s division also lined up for their respective third to 12th rankings: Mindanao State University-Tawi Tawi, University of Southern Philippines, Adamson University, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, Far Eastern University, University of Mindanao-Davao, University of Mindanao-Tagum, St. Francis of Assisi College, University of San Carlos, and Ateneo de Davao University.

As exciting as these athletic matches were, there was yet another exciting action on the sand court. Just like last year, Nestea once again played host to an amusing two-day celebrity volleyball match. Each of the day’s match consisted of a volley game of two sets. Team A was composed of Nancy Castiglione, Brent Javier, Bubbles Paraiso, Epi Quizon, and Jude Lee who, by the way, owns favorite Boracay hangout, Hey Jude. Rissa Samson, Geoff Rodriguez, Valerie de los Santos, Robby Mananquil, Ornusa Cadness, and Borgy Manotoc made up Team B.

The second day of the celebrity volley matches saw a lot of new faces on the sand court. Team A was now composed of Ronnie Quizon, Wazzup Wazzup’s Bim Cecilo, Tisha Silang, Borgy Manotoc, and Volley Works’ Bea Gonzalez and Kat Benitez. Making up Team B were Wazzup Wazzup’s Niña Dolino, Geoff Rodriguez, ETK’s Stephanie Camacho and Volleyworks’ Ika Lopido along with Maverick and Ariel.

But there was something else that everyone had a great time with – the parties. The Nestea Beach House Party Series surely continued all the way to Boracay. It started with a relaxing Chillout Luau as everyone settled on a carpet of sand surrounded with lots of fluffy colorful pillows, the better to watch the fascinating Boracay sunset. What followed was a sumptuous international buffet dinner. And then it was time to party. As everyone settled into their chairs at Bom Bom and Patís, the band Makatha took center stage and rocked the house with some of their original songs.

The second night took on a different theme – a Brazilian night in El Toro. Everyone was treated to another delicious dinner of grilled food. As the night went on, the front stage caught everyone’s attention as Brazilian instrumental music started to play, putting people into a sexy dancing mood.

On victory night, Nestea hosted the party to end all parties. The night started with an appropriate victory dinner at Paradiso where seafood was aplenty. The group then moved on to Hey Jude, ready to have a good time. The program opened with an impressive flame-dancing number as a fashion show started on another stage. It was partly participated in by models from the Professional Models Association of the Philippines, most of whom participated in the celebrity games earlier. Together with the winners of the Nestea Summer Guys and Gals, they worked the ramp showing off the latest fashions from Speedo, Nullah, Dong Omaga, and Avel Bacudio. After the fashion show, Bamboo graced the night with his music as the party went on throughout the night. People remained in party spirit as the climactic end to the Nestea Beach Volley Series 2005 continued until sunrise with DJ Manolet Dario.

Nestea has done a brilliant job this year, with the help of its numerous sponsors: Speedo, Mikasa, Cebu Pacific, Hey Jude Resorts, La Salle Greenhills, Villa de Oro, Coppertone, Boracay Regency, Power Plant Mall, National Sports Grill, and Click the City.com.

Nobody does it like Nestea, this much I can say. We all surely enjoyed it. For those who didn’t make it to Boracay in time, I’ve got only one advice for next summer: You know where the party’s at, don’t miss it again!

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E-mail the author at ice_wave_42@yahoo.com.