BVR national championship slated Thursday

MANILA, Philippines –  Beach volleyball is starting to turn vibrant with several leagues coming out. The biggest of them is Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR).

 

The BVR, headed by former Ateneo stars Charo Soriano, Bea Tan and Dzi Gervacio, will hold its culminating whole-year, countrywide tournament with the National Championships slated on Thursday and Friday at the Sands, SM by the Bay in Mall of Asia, Pasay City. 

 

"It's the culmination of our year-long program as we try to spread the word of beach volleyball to as many Filipinos as we can," said Soriano, one of the people who founded BVR, in yesterday's presser at Lola Cafe.

 

Tournament director Tony Liao held the drawing of brackets on the same day and picked the Soriano-Alexa Micek duo in Pool A alongside University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos' Jennifer Cosas and SouthWestern U's Floremel Rodriguez, San Beda's Viray sisters Maria Nieza and Maria Jeziela and guest team Ivee Ilao and Tatiana Sabilan.

 

Santo Tomas' Judy Caballejo and Amma Camille Abanto, Central Phl U Iloilo's Dhannylaine Demontano and University of San Agustin's Jusabelle Brillo, Polytechnic University of the Phl's Rhea Fermilan and Javen Sabas and SouthWestern U's Therese Rae Ramas and Janelle Cabahug will comprise Pool B.

 

Pool C is composed of Rizal Technological U's Jonafer San Pedro and Jessa Aranda, Bea Tan and Fiola Ceballos, Lyceum of the Phl U's Cherilyn Sindayen and Rainne Fabay and University of the Mindanao-PNP's Lourdilyn Catubag and Karen Kay Quilarion while Pool D will have Gervacio and Michelle Morente, USPF's Apple Saraum and UV's Jusabelle Brillo, UP's Issa Molde and Diana Carlos and FEU's Bernadette Pons and Kyla Atienza.

 

Liao said the top two teams will advance to the playoff round.

 

The winner of the National Championships will receive P100,000 while the second, third and fourth placers will take home P70,000, P40,000 and P20,000, respectively.

 

ABS-CBN Sports and Action HD head Jojo Estacio, for her part, they will show the matches on Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

"We know beach volleyball is booming that's why we'll try to bring to the Filipino households the BVR games," said Estacio.

 

The BVR, which aims to promote beach volleyball to the whole of the Philippines, had actually held seven tournaments in Boracay, La Union, Negros Occidental, Cagayan and Bayawan to jumpstart its season.