16 teams vie for Beach Volleyball Republic National Championship

MANILA, Philippines – After 4 months of competition, 7 legs in 7 cities across the country, and dozens of participants, the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) National Championship is coming to its exciting conclusion. 

There are 16 duos vying for the title of Queens of the Sand, with a P100,000 prize at stake.

In a press conference in Quezon City, BVR founders and former Ateneo Lady Eagles Bea Tan, Charo Soriano, and Angeline Gervacio, along with Ateneo volleyball team manager Tonyboy Liao, conducted a draw to determine the groupings that will compete for the national championship. 

Outside the former Lady Eagles in the competition, the familiar names among the 16 teams include Philippine Air Force’s Judy Caballejo and Anna Camille Abanto, Isa Molde and Diana Carlos from the University of the Philippines, and Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza of Far Eastern University. 

“They add a lot of star power to the competition,” said Tan.

According to Gervacio, they were surprised at the turnout of both participants and viewers over the course of the 7 legs.

“Especially in Bayawan City in Negros Oriental, it was amazing. We’ve seen indoor volleyball packed with big crowds. Slowly but surely, we’re seeing pretty good turnouts in beach volleyball. It’s a good start,” she said.

The 7 legs were held in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Negros Occidental, Pampanga, Aklan, and Negros Oriental, with homegrown talents participating in each leg. 

“These are the best of the best so expect every set to be hotly contested,” Soriano said.

“Even the teams from the provinces will be in the hunt for the championship,” added Liao, who is also BVR tournament director. “You cannot take them lightly.”

The following are the duos set to compete: