Asia’s top beach volleyball squads vie in Smasrt AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

Mar 31, 2024 10:01 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Elite action returns to the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) hosts the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open starting this Thursday, April 4, until Sunday.  

Elite action returns to the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) hosts the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open starting this Thursday, April 4, until Sunday.

Gen Eslapor in action in last December’s Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge also in Nuvali. (PNVF)

A total of 46 squads , including four from Team Philippines and also from Australia and New Zealand, will compete in the four-day event, one of six international tournaments that the PNVF is organizing this year ahead of the historic solo hosting of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025.

“The Philippines has become destination for both regional [Asia and Southeast Asia] and international volleyball competitions and we are proud of that distinction, especially because we are world championship host for the first time next year,” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said.

Tickets to the Smart AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open also primarily supported by PLDT and the City of Santa Rosa are now available at www.ticketmax.ph, where beach volleyball fans can also avail themselves of the P220 day pass.

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 from April 11 to 14.        

The Philippine team under Brazilian coach Joao Luciano Kiodai and Mayi Molit-Prochina will have the women's pairs of Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda, and Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola in the main's draw. The tandems of James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, and Ranran Abdilla and AJ Pareja will also represent the country in the men's main draw.        

Three teams from Australia, Japan and Thailand, two pairs from Hong Kong, Singapore, Kazahkstan and New Zealand, as well as women's squads from Indonesia, Macau and Malaysia have confirmed their participation.

In the men's division, Australia, Japan and Thailand have entered three teams, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Iran and New Zealand each had two, while China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau are also in the mix.      

Tops on the PNVF’s international calendar this year is the return of the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Week 3 from June 18 to 23.

Also on the PNVF calendar are 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.

48 matches usher in World Beach Pro Tour Challenge in Nuvali

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

  

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AT A GLANCE

• There are 16 teams each in the men and women main draw and the qualifiers alone, according to Suzara, have 32 teams for each gender representing more than 30 countries.

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Forty-eight qualification matches scheduled over 10 hours usher in on Thursday, Nov. 30, a Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Challenge Philippine leg at Nuvali that is bursting at the seams with the host Philippine National Volleyball League (PNVF) needing at least five hotels in and out of Santa Rosa City to billet athletes and officials.

Foreign teams take their turn to train at the Nuvali Sand Courts.

“It’s the biggest beach volleyball competition the country has ever hosted,” PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said on Wednesday. “It’s the biggest and most prestigious with Olympic and world champions and top-ranked athletes converging in Nuvali.”

There are 16 teams each in the men and women main draw and the qualifiers alone, according to Suzara, have 32 teams for each gender representing more than 30 countries. 

Dozens other teams in both genders are also in town as reserves in the tournament supported by gold sponsors Ayala Land, Mikasa, Senoh, Philippine Sports Commission, Pinay In Action and Smart as gold sponsors and PLDT, Gatorade, Maynilad, Rebisco, Ayala Malls, Department of Tourism, CBPI, Club Laiya, Foton as bronze sponsors.

Nuvali, through Ayala Land, built four world-class and FIVB-standard sand courts and one practice court on a sprawling area fronting Landers.

Hotels within the Nuvali area have overflowed that the PNVF had to book participants in hotels in Silang, Alabang and Batangas.

The qualification matches on Thursday start simultaneously in all four newly-built courts at 8 p.m. with the last matches set for 6 p.m.

The main draw proceeds Friday with simultaneous matches serving at 9 a.m. with the day’s competitions ending with 9 p.m. matches.

Teams have tested the courts in training since last Tuesday, including the Philipine squads coached by Brazilian Jao Luciano Kiodai. 

“We’re going to expect the best of the bests here,” Kiodai said. “But the most important here is to introduce to the Philippines the high level of beach volleyball. “It’s going to be hard, but the process is much more important than the results we are going to have,” said Kiodai, who’s been handling the national squads for a year now.

Jovelyn Gonzaga and Sisi Rondina won the gold medal last year in Subic but the duo already reverted to indoor volleyball, handing the mantle to veterans Jen Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez and national team first-timers Sofiah Pagara and Khylem Progella.

Kiodai set potent expectations for the nationals.

“We already showed in the last Asian Games that we can play in the world and play the best we can,” he said, referring to last year’s Future finalist Eslapor and Rodriguez, who posted a Philippine-best fifth place finish in Asiad beach volleyball in Hangzhou. 

The Philippine men’s teams are Ran Abdilla and Jeron Requinton, Anthony Arbasto and Alche Gupiteo and the veteran pair of James Buytrago and Rancel Varga.

Ortiguerra shares limelight in Philippine Aquatics National tryouts

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Trixie Ortiguerra pulled off the biggest upset yet so far to overshadow the dominating performances by some of most experienced junior internationalists as action continued in the Philippine Aquatics-organized National Tryouts NCR leg on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.

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Trixie Ortiguerra pulled off the biggest upset yet so far to overshadow the dominating performances by some of most experienced junior internationalists as action continued in the Philippine Aquatics-organized National Tryouts NCR leg on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Teofilo Yldefonso swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) in Malate, Manila.

Trixie Ortiguerra

The 16-year-old Grade 10 student from Sto. Cristo Integrated School in Tarlac City beat Vietnam-based and two-time World Junior campaigner Heather White in what could be the most intense duel in the girls 15-17 50-meter backstroke in the three-day tournament serving as the final selection process for the 44-man Philippine Team set to participate in the 11th Asian Age Group Swimming Championship slated on Dec. 3 to 6 at the New Clark Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

Ortiguerra clocked 31.20 seconds ahead of White, who finished second with 32.27sec. 

“Masayang-masaya po ako, first time ko pong nakalaban sa backstroke si Heather (White), kaya nagulat ako kasi ang bilis niya kahit hindi talaga siya backstroker. Pasalamat lang ako at nakuha ko yung panalo and very hopeful ako na mapasama sa Philippine Team after three years,” said Ortiguerra, who was 13-years old when she was included in the National team in the 2019 SEA Age Group edition.

White, a national junior record holder in freestyle, earlier won the girls 15-17 400m freestyle with a time of 4:35.57.

As expected, veteran Jamesrey Ajido dominated the boys 12-14 class with another victory in the 200m Individual Medley (2:16.01). On the opening day, the 14-year-old multi junior-record holder claimed the 200m freestyle (2:02.68) and the 50m back (28.90).

Other notable junior tankers who claimed ‘provisionary’ status for the National Team are Arabella Taguinota in the girls 15-17 100m breaststroke (1:13.40), Chantelle Coleman in the girls 12-14 100m breast (1:19.82) and 50m breast (35.24), Kyla Louise Bulaga in the girls 12-14 200m Im (2:35.10), Joshua Ramos in the Boys 18 & Over 50m back (27.79); Peter Cyrus Dean in the boys 15-17 50m (27.74), Kacie Gabrielle Tionko in the girls 15-17 800m freestyle (10:03.51); Philip Santos in the boys 18-pover 400m Im (4:52.68); Mishka Sy in the girls 18-over 400 IM (5:18.59); Patricia Santor in the girls 400m IM (5:19.23); Aishel Evangelista boys 12-14  400m Im (4:26.06), Thanya Dela Cruz  girls 18-over 50m breast (31.83) and Ashton Clyde Jose in the boys 12-14 50m breast (32.57). 

Tournament Director Chito Rivera said top two swimmers in their respective age group class or  those who earned points nearest to World Aquatics 700 points will be considered in the Philippine team.

Adamson clips reigning UAAP champion La Salle with stunning come-from-behind win

 BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

Aug 10, 2023 09:28 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Adamson clipped reigning UAAP champion La Salle with a stunning 22-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, 16-14 come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals finale on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

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Adamson clipped reigning UAAP champion La Salle with a stunning 22-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, 16-14 come-from-behind win in Game 1 of the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals finale on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Adamson Lady Falcons. (SSL)

The Lady Falcons gave the Lady Spikers a dose of their own medicine, erasing a huge 11-20 deficit in the fourth set before pulling through by a whisker in the clincher to move on the brink of capturing the first SSL national title.

Skipper Lucille Almonte kept Adamson afloat all throughout with 24 points on three aces and a block while super rookie Red Bascon delivered when it mattered the most, none bigger than her back-to-back hits to finish with seven points and clinch it for the Lady Falcons. 

Ayesha Juegos had 13 points while Sharya Nicole Ancheta and Lorene Toring added 10 apiece in the well-balanced attack of Adamson under new mentor JP Yude.

“Lagi ko kasing sinasabi sa kanila, may tiwala ako sa kanila. Kaya I always encourage them, especially nung 4th set, down kami, sabi ko ‘di pa tapos ‘yung laban. ‘Di pa naman 25. Sabi ko isa-isahin natin. Tyagain natin,” said Yude, a former Adamson player, in his first tournament since taking over from Jerry Yee in June.

“Siguro, na-absorb nila yun. Siguro nakita din nila sa akin, for me, ‘di pa talo. Ayusin nyo yung mga mukha nyo, yung body language nyo. Hindi pa tapos ‘yung laban. Siguro nakita nila yung eagerness na i-push sila.”

La Salle, riding on a five-set win against the University of Santo Tomas from a 1-2 deficit including multiple match points saved, looked headed into an easy four-set win against Adamson by building what seemed an insurmountable 20-11 lead off a Thea Gagate hit. 

But Adamson simply refused to go down and quit.

With Almonte setting the tone, the Lady Falcons launched a killer 11-1 rally capped by Ancheta’s quick attack in the middle to snatch the driver seat at 22-21.

Both teams traded blows from there on, with each one reaching match point, before Bascon unloaded two straight hits for a 27-25 win to extend the match to the fifth set.

As they figured in a back-and-forth decider anew, Bascon would not shy away from the big stage by hammering through another back-to-back attack for Adamson’s great escape act.

Shevana Laput rifled in a tournament-high of 30 points, Thea Gagate and Alleiah Malaluan added 14 points while Baby Jyne Soreño had 11 points but La Salle still absorbed its first defeat in the 12-team SSL presented by Eurotel as the official hotel and Victory Liner as office transport provider, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Proudly Filipino, Eggesvik ready for Norway on Sunday

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

  

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AT A GLANCE

• She caught the attention of Filipino fans during last year’s 10th AFF Women’s Championship where her midfield mastery and fluid play was in full display as the Filipinas bagged the country’s first major international title at the heritage-rich Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

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AUCKLAND – Born in Norway but proudly Filipino, talented midfielder Sara Eggesvik will set her feelings aside and will be battle-ready as the Filipinas play the Gresshoppene (the Grasshoppers) in a critical match on Sunday, July 30, at the close of Group A in the FIFA Women’s World Cup at Eden Park here.

Sara Eggesvik (right) trying to mark New Zealand skipper Ali Riley.

“We have to put that aside when the game starts. I am playing for the Philippines. I will do my best to get a win and get points,” Eggesvik said emphatically shortly after the Filipinas upset the Ferns 1-0  for their historic first World Cup win at the Sky Stadium in Wellington last Tuesday.

Another of Australian coach Alen Stajcic’s prized finds, Eggesvik, whose father is Norwegian and mother from Davao, was born in the coastal city of Bodø (pronounced Budo), 1,188.5 kilometers northeast of the capital of Oslo and located near the Artic Circle. 

She caught the attention of Filipino fans during last year’s 10th AFF Women’s Championship where her midfield mastery and fluid play was in full display as the Filipinas bagged the country’s first major international title at the heritage-rich Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

With a cross inside the box, Eggesvik  set up striker Sarina Bolden, whose smashing header in the 24th minute proved to be the winning marker that gave the Filipinas a new lease on life after suffering a 0-2 setback to Switzerland in Dunedin last week.

“I remember getting the ball in the 16-meter (box) and just crossed it. It was an amazing header by Sarina over three defenders.  Although it was only one goal we had to keep them away from goal the rest of the way. It was a team effort. I am just so glad and grateful. I am so proud of this team,” she said.

Trying to hold back her tears, Eggesvik, 26, said the victory over the fancied Ferns showed that “this team is really something special. It shows we can compete at this level and we will keep on fighting. 

It shows that it is possible to get a win, to get a goal and get points from our games. That motivates us. I am glad that we are not out already.”

She paid credit to Stajcic and the rest of the coaching staff “who keep on pushing us and making us better every day. We have always believed in ourselves even when we lost and played bad games. We will keep on playing hard.”

She acknowledged that while they would savor the winning moment, it would be back to the salt mines just as immediately in preparation for their crucial match against the top-ranked Norwegians composed of a bevy of superstars led by striker Ada Hegerberg, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner.

“We have to restart again and think of the next game. Because it is coming soon, it is only a few days to go. We have to take advantage with what we have,” she said. “We want to see if we can create trouble and be competitive.  To  keep our heads down and keep fighting.”

While it appears to be a tall order, Eggesvik said that toppling Norway would not only mean advancing to the knockout round but  also will have a huge impact for football development back home.

“Going to the knockout stage, that would mean a lot. From being a small football country, we can inspire a lot of girls and boys to start playing football and show that it is possible to do something great although you are from the Philippines,” she stressed. 

Sara Eggesvik singing the “Lupang Hinirang,” the Philippine national anthem, before the game against New Zealand.

Sara Eggesvik (right) trying to mark New Zealand skipper Ali Riley.

Cignal keeps semis bid alive, ousts Farm Fresh

BY NIKOLE JAVIER

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Ces Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga’s joint effort boosted Cignal's semifinals bid after a 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 rout of Farm Fresh in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Thursday night, July 13, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

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Ces Molina and Jovelyn Gonzaga’s joint effort boosted Cignal's semifinals bid after a 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 rout of Farm Fresh in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference on Thursday night, July 13, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

Ces Molina and Rose Doria celebrate a point. (PVL Images)

The HD Spikers improved 3-1 in the Pool B standings to give themselves a better fighting chance for the next round. 

Molina finished with 16 points all from attacks while Gonzaga contributed 12 points on 10 attacks and two blocks.  

With the win, the HD Spikers joined the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers and the Petro Gazz Angels in a three-way tie as the race for a semis berth gets tighter. 

Kate Santiago paced the Foxies with 12 points as usual top scorer Gayle Pascual was held to a one point-outing. 

Farm Fresh, which absorbed its fourth consecutive losses in as many games, is set to face the also-ran Foton Tornadoes to qualify for the classification round. 

Chua, Aranas nip Germany, reign supreme in World Cup of Pool

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

Jul 3, 2023 07:27 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Johann Chua and James Aranas endured some tense moments to deliver a performance to remember in Lugo, Spain, nipping the German duo of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen, 11-7, to crown themselves the kings of the 2023 World Cup of Pool 9-ball Championship early Monday morning, July 3.

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Johann Chua and James Aranas endured some tense moments to deliver a performance to remember in Lugo, Spain, nipping the German duo of Joshua Filler and Moritz Neuhausen, 11-7, to crown themselves the kings of the 2023 World Cup of Pool 9-ball Championship early Monday morning, July 3.

Johann Chua (left) and James Aranas celebrate their World Cup win. (Photo from Matchroom Pool)

Unseeded in the tournament with a tough task on hand, the blazing duo completed the improbable run which could serve as a spark for the country's resurgence in the sport the Filipinos used to dominate in the past two decades.

Adding cherry on top, the pair's victory broke the tie in overall wins as the Philippines bagged its fourth title against China's three after the 2006 and 2009 triumph of Efren "Bata" Reyes and Francisco Bustamante, and the 2013 conquest of Dennis Orcollo and Lee Van Corteza.

Fil-Am bodybuilder vows to help Ilocos Sur public school

BY MANILA BULLETIN SPORTS

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Fil-American bodybuilder Jaclyn Rose Garcia is not only aiming for personal glory when she competes in the 2023 Ms. Health & Fitness online tournament.

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By MARK MONTEJO

Fil-American bodybuilder Jaclyn Rose Garcia is not only aiming for personal glory when she competes in the 2023 Ms. Health & Fitness online tournament.

Ruby Rose Garcia.

Garcia, who is also a fourth degree taekwondo black belter, admitted she joined the online body contest to also give back to the community that meant a lot to her late grandparents.

The tournament offers $20,000 (around P1.1 million) to the winner, and Garcia said if she wins, part of her potential prize money would be donated for the renovation of the Pantay Tamurong Elementary School in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, where her late grandfather Quirino Sulay taught for 16 years.

“I wanted to honor them in some kind of way and continue on their legacy of philanthropy,” said Garcia.

“When they both passed away last year, it was very hard on the family. They immigrated to a different country and raised a family. They persevered through illnesses and normal challenges in life, but their hearts remained open and they continued to give every opportunity they had,” she added.

Garcia was no stranger in competitions. She has been a martial artist for over 18 years where she was part of the Ernie Reyes Next Generation performance team for over 11 years that performed all over the world.

Among those is the Wesley Snipes’ Master of Martial Arts TV special and performance.

She was also a marathoner, having raced three marathons since 2014. Last year, she ran the Original Marathon in Athens. Greece.

In bodybuilding, she competed in her first Biking BodyBuilding competition last year where she finished second.

The Ms. Health & Fitness tournament is based on voting where the winner will also get featured on the cover of the Ms. Health & Fitness magazine.

Semifinals will be on June 29 where top bodybuilders in each group will advance to the finals.

Finals will be from June 30 to July 6 where votes will be reset.

Winner will be announced on July 13.

Link to vote for Garcia: https://mshealthandfitness.com/2023/jaclyn-rub