Sports executives are putting their bets on Laguna province as the new “hot” destination for beach volleyball.
This, as the province became the host for the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open, held at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa City from April 4 to 7.
It was the country’s second major international tournament since the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge in December.
A total of 46 teams competed in the event, with the Philippine team under Brazilian coach Joao Luciano Kiodai and Mayi Molit-Prochina represented by pairs Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda, Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola, James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, and Ranran Abdilla and AJ Pareja.
The women's division featured three teams from Australia, Japan and Thailand; two from Hong Kong, Singapore, Kazakhstan and New Zealand; and Indonesia, Macau and Malaysia.
The men's division had three teams each from Australia, Japan and Thailand; two each from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Iran and New Zealand; and from China, Malaysia, Hongkong, Singapore and Macau.
“The Philippines has become a destination for both regional [Asia and Southeast Asia] and international volleyball competitions and we are proud of that distinction, especially because we are world championship host for the first time next year,” Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon Suzara said in a statement on Sunday, March 31.
To recall, the 2023 Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy were also held at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts.
The AVC Beach Tour was one of six international tournaments that the PNVF is organizing this year, ahead of the historic FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025.
Nuvali will also host the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour-Futures on April 11 to 14 and Volleyball World Pro Tour Challenge in November.
The other events are the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Week 3 on June 18 to 23; 5th AVC Challenge Cup for Women in May; and 4th Southeast Asia V League Week 2 in July.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #SmartAsianVolleyballConfederation #PNVF #