Luzon qualifier kicks off Nestea Fit volley tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Top beach volley action fires off the Luzon elimination rounds of the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09 tomorrow with defending men’s champion Foundation University and women’s titleholder Southwestern University leading the field at the SM Mall of Asia Bay Area.

After the Luzon qualifier, Mindanao teams will see action at the Tagum Beach Volley Drome at Rotary Park on March 26-28 while the Visayas eliminations will be staged April 16-18 at Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu.

Winners will advance to the semifinal and championship rounds to be held in Boracay from May 6-9.

All teams that qualify for the Boracay games will get cash prizes with champion teams taking home P100,000 each, second placers getting P65,000 each and third placers receiving P35,000 each.

Out to topple Foundation U and Southwestern U in the three-day Luzon elims are Adamson, Letran, College of St. Benilde, La Salle-Dasmariñas, La Salle -Manila, Far Eastern U, Lyceum-Batangas, Lyceum-Manila, National College of Business and Arts, Philippine Christian University, San Beda College-Alabang, San Beda College-Manila, St. Louis University, University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, University of the East, University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and University of the Philippines.

Runners up to Foundation U in last year’s men’s competition were University of Southern Philippines Foundation and University of St. La Salle-Bacolod.

In the women’s division, University of the Visayas and University of Mindanao-Davao finished second and third, respectively.   

Previous Nestea Beach Volley champions in the men’s division include the University of Santo Tomas (1997), San Sebastian College (1998 and 2003), Far Eastern University (1999), Colegio de San Juan de Letran (2000), Foundation University (2001) and University of San Jose-Recoletos (2002 and 2004), College of St. Benilde (2005), Adamson University (2006) and Mindanao State University (2007).