Sizzling Boracay beach volley unfolds

MANILA, Philippines – Beach volley fever hits fever pitch as 24 of the country’s top collegiate teams vie for pride and honor in the 15th Nestea Beach Volley national finals beginning tomorrow in Boracay.

The survivors of the Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region qualifiers go head-to-head for the crown and the top purse of P100,000.

Arellano U’s John Carlo Lozada and Chris Salvador head the cast as winners of the NCR elims where they beat Univ. of Santo Tomas’ Mark Gil Alfafara and Henry James Pecana, 21-18, 21-19, in the men’s finale in Tanauan, Batangas.

UST’s Maruja Banaticla and Judy Ann Caballero will be the pair to beat in the ladies side after the duo copped the NCR title with a 21-18, 21-18 victory over La Salle’s Wensh Tiu and Kim Fajardo.

The second placers in the three-day event sponsored by Nestea will get P65,000 while the next two finishers will receive P35,000 and P22,500, respectively.

To spice up the finals, Nestea is putting up a celebrity tournament featuring the likes of Derek Ramsey, Karyll and Erich Gonzales. Nestea beach participants will also get a rare chance to meet-and-greet their idols by participating in the many fun-filled activities, such as the Nestea beach plunge game, paraw sailing and sand writing. 

As a part of the Nestea beach summer initiative, the Boracay finals will be taking time to care for the island through their Nestea Loves the Beach campaign. 

Participants of Nestea beach will be joining the coastal clean-up as well as the clean-up diving session. Nestea Loves the Beach is a continuing effort to raise awareness and encourage action on preserving the Philippines’ pristine beaches. 

Under this beach clean-up initiative, Nestea will be working with local government units and the Boracay Beach Management Program to produce and disseminate beach preservation information materials to raise awareness on the importance of keeping Philippine beaches litter-free.