Filipino beach volleyball players will be put to test when the 2018 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Manila Open fires off today at the Sands SM by the Bay.
The hard-hitting tandem of Sisi Rondina and Dzi Gervacio banners the eight-pair local cast along with Beach Volleyball Republic Champions Jade Becaldo and Calvin Sarte as they seek to gain experience against teams from 23 other nations.
Other local bets competing are BVR founders Charo Soriano and Bea Tan, two-time BVR winner Karen Quilario and Lot Catubag, and DM Demontaño and Jackie Estoquia.
Also competing are Kevin Juban and Raphy Abanto, veterans Ranran Abdilla and Edwin Tolentino, and KR Guzman and Henry Pecaña.
The highest rated pair in the women’s side, Paraguay’s Michelle Amarilla and Erika Bobadilla headlines the international cast as the pair bid to eclipse their quarterfinal finish at the Malaysia Open last week.
Malaysia Open’s silver winners Katja Stam and Julia Wouters of the Netherlands are also slated to return to the sand, along with powerhouse Japanese pair Ayumi Kusano and Takemi Nishibori, and American duo Lindsey fuller and Kaley Melville.
Sixteen pairs will compete in the women’s main draw that include Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, Thailand, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Paraguay and the United States, while other participating countries in the men’s side are Chinese Taipei, Israel, Oman, Slovenia, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and Venezuela.
The event, likewise, also hopes to become a springboard for the country’s future participation in international events like next year’s Southeast Asian Games that the Philippines is hosting.
