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| Gen Eslapor in action during the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge held at the Nuvali Sand Courts last December 2023 (Image Source: Philippine News Agency/Philippine National Volleyball Federation) |
Elite action returns to the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa in the province of Laguna as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) hosts the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open slated to be held on April 4-7, 2024. The four-day event will see a total of 46 squads from across Asia Pacific, uncluding four from Team Philippines and also from Australia and New Zealand, competing in one of six international tournaments that the PNVF is organizing this year ahead of its historic solo hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025.
“The Philippines has become a destination for both regional [Asia and Southeast Asia] and international volleyball competitions and we are proud of that distinction, especially because we are hosting a world championship for the first time next year,” said PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara. Those who are vying to watch epic elite Asian beach volleyball action can purchase their tickets to the Smart AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open online at www.ticketmax.ph, including a Php220 day pass for all-day enjoyment and satisfaction for beach volleyball fans. With primary support from Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) and the City Government of Santa Rosa, the PNVF and Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land are hosting a second major international tournament since the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge last December — with the Ayala venue also hosting the Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy also last December besides being the official home of the national beach volleyball teams as well as a preferred training venue for Japan’s national squads. After the AVC Beach Pro Tour backed by Foton, Akari, Mikasa, Senoh, Seda, Asics, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+ and Pilipinas Live, the PNVF and Nuvali will host the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour-Futures on April 11-14, 2024.
The Philippine team under Brazilian coach Joao Luciano Kiodai and Mayi Molit-Prochina will have the pairs of Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda and Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola in the women's main draw and he tandems of James Buytrago and Rancel Varga and Ranran Abdilla and AJ Pareja in the men’s main draw. Confirming to take part and participate in the event are three teams from Australia, Japan and Thailand each; two pairs from Hong Kong, Singapore, Kazahkstan and New Zealand each; and women’s squads from Indonesia, Macau and Malaysia. On the other hand, entering the open in the men’s division are three teams from Australia, Japan and Thailand; two from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Iran and New Zealand; and representative squads from China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau.
Included in the PNVF’s international calendar this year are the return of the Volleyball Nations League in the Philippines for Men’s Week 3 scheduled on June 18-23, the 5th AVC Challenge Cup for Women in May, 4th Southeast Asia V League Week 2 in July and the Volleyball World Pro Tour Challenge also in Nuvali in November.
