THE Philippines will field three pairs each in the men’s and women’s divisions of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures, the third major international tournament the Philippine National Volleyball Federation is hosting this year.
The pairs of Jude Garcia and Krung Arbasto, Ranran Abdilla and Jaron Requinton, and James Buytrago and Pol Salvador are campaigning in the men’s contest of the Futures that lured the world’s best beach volleyball teams at the Subic Bay Sand Court from December 8 to 11.
The veteran pairs of Dij Rodriguez and Gen Eslapor, Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga and the young tandem of Grydelle Matibag and Khylem Progella are seeing action in the women’s competition.
PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said all Philippine pairs are entered in the 16-team main draw composed of two squads from Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Lithuania, Israel and Italy.
Suzara also said that 13 women’s teams–seven from Japan, two from South Korea, the Czech Republic, Singapore, Canada and France–will battle for the four remaining main draw slots in the qualification round on December 8.
Fourteen pairs–four from the Czech Republic, three from Japan, two each from Thailand and Australia, New Zealand, Austria and Israel–will go through the qualifiers for the last four slots in the men’s main draw also on December 8.
The main draw is from December 9 to 11. Tournament format is the modified pool play, which will be followed by single elimination rounds.
