BVR National championship fires off

MANILA, Philippines — The Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour National Championship blasts off Friday at the scenic Anguib Beach in Sta. Ana, Cagayan Valley with the winners getting the chance to represent the country in international competitions.

The winners of both the women’s and men’s divisions will make it straight to the national pool for a chance to compete for flag and country in the Southeast Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Singapore this September.

And not even Typhoon “Gorio” could stop BVR organizers headed by one of their founders Charo Soriano from staging the three-day competition.

“We at the BVR are forever at the service of Philippine beach volleyball,” said Soriano.

A total of 16 teams per class are seeing action and will be divided into four groups with the top two per bracket barging into the playoff round.

Expected to contend for the championship and slots to Singapore are Cebu women's standouts Therese Ramas and Floremel Rodriguez and defending men's titlists Jade Becaldo and Rommel Pepito.

Also participating in the women's section are Team Perlas headed by Bea Tan, Ateneo, Rizal Technological University, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tagum and Philippine National Police.

Far Eastern University, National University, Coast Guard, Bacolod, Iloilo, RTU, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, Ateneo and Navy comprise the men’s section.

The champions in both divisions will also pocket P50,000 grand prize while the runners up will take home P30,000 and the third placer will get P15,000.