128 beach volleyball teams sign up 16th Nestea Beach Volleyball tilt

With a single elimination format in place, the 128 beach volleyball teams that have signed up for the 16th Nestea Beach Volleyball tournament can expect to face tough competition, starting Monday, March 22.

Tournament technical director Rustico Camangian said there will be five rounds of competition, adding that the organizers saw to it that in the first round, schools will compete with teams from other areas.

“In recruitment basically we see to it that the top teams are invited. These teams are seasoned because they compete in other beach volleyball tournaments,” Camangian said.

Visayas and Mindanao teams will converge in Moalboal until March 23 while the Luzon and National Capital Region contingents will do battle on the beach of Laiya in San Juan, Batangas on April 5 to 6.

“The 24 best teams from the eliminations will face off in Boracay for the finals on April 18 to 20 where they get the chance to win Php 100,000 in cash,” organizers said in a news release.

Camangian said among the teams that have confirmed their participation are the Iligan Medical College, John B. Lacson Maritime College, Angeles University Foundation, Assumption College and Philippine Normal University.

He said the single elimination format makes the competition “stiffer and harder” for all schools competing in the “biggest and longest-running beach volleyball tournament.”



Preparatory tournaments for the competing teams are other beach volleyball tournaments including those of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

“This year's festival promises to be much bigger, more colorful, and more exciting with a host of lifestyle events such as concerts, fashion shows, beach parties featuring the hottest bands and most sought after DJs and clean-up drives of beaches across the country,” organizers said.

In addition, host communities and residents will have ways to participate in the beach festival. “Working with Boracay Foundation, Inc. and local government units, NESTEA Beach will hold coastal and underwater clean-ups that consumers can join,” according to the organizers.

“In Partnership with Boracay Foundation, 100 coin banks will also be distributed in Boracay resorts and funds will go support the foundation projects,” the organizers added. - AMD, GMA News