PNVF taps Brazilian coach for beach volley teams

MANILA, Philippines — Brazil’s Joao Luciano Kiodai was added to the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) national team program to handle the beach volleyball squads, according to PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

Kiodai arrived in the country last Tuesday and went straight to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority to start handling the national beach volleyball squads’ preparations for the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures set Dec. 8 to 11 at the Subic Bay Sand Court.

Kiodai is the second Brazilian in the PNVF national team program under the auspices of the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB. Jorge Edson Souza de Brito has been handling the women’s volleyball program since July last year.

“Coach Joao’s arrival is a big boost to the national beach volleyball in as much the same way as coach Jorge is to the volleyball teams,” said Suzara, who welcomed Kiodai along with PNVF secretary-general Don Caringal.

Kiodai, 43, was a beach volleyball pro for 10 years and coach for 15 years, having coached the national teams of Iran and Azerbaijan.

His most notable players include three-time Olympic champion Kelly Walsh Jennings and Brooke Sweat.

Two teams from Singapore, meanwhile, arrived yesterday and will play exhibition matches against the Philippine teams tomorrow at the spruced up Subic Bay Sand Courts.

The Singaporeans will play against the national pairs of Dij Rodriguez and Gen Eslapor, Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga and the young tandem of Grydelle Matibag and Khylem Progella.

The men’s squad is made up of Jude Garcia and Krung Arbasto, Ranran Abdilla and Jaron Requinton, and James Buytrago and Pol Salvador.

A test event will be held Wednesday while the qualification matches will be on Thursday. The 16-team main draw will be from Dec. 9 to 11.

The Futures is one of three tiers of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour besides the Challenge and Elite 16.