UV, SWU gear up for Nestea Visayas elims

REIGNING Nestea Beach Volleyball national men’s champion University of the Visayas (UV) is starting its preparation for the Visayas elimination which will coincide for the first time with the Mindanao leg.

This was disclosed by UV head coach Raffy Briones, who said he will again field Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo.

“I like the tandem of Abria and Becaldo inside the court, although they need to double time with their trainings as we will be up against tougher teams this year,” Briones said.

According to Briones, the teams that they are keeping their eye on are Foundation University, St. La Salle in Bacolod, University of San Jose-Recoletos and the new men’s team of Southwestern University ,which won the 2012 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) beach volley tourney.

SWU head coach Dave Arreza said that even if men’s team is new, he is confident that with their skills, Rommel Pepito and Relan Taneo will be competitive.

“We are confident and we really work hard because we want to reach the finals and that’s our aim. It’s up to the Lord if i-tugot gyud nya namu,” Arreza said.

SWU will be fielding Danika Gendrauli with new partner Raphril Aguilar in the women’s division.

Meanwhile, Cebu coordinator Ricky Ballesteros said there are no venues yet for the Visayas and Mindanao leg as they are still scouting for the best venue that will host the two legs simultaneously.

Last year’s Visayas elimination was held in Moalboal.

Ballesteros said they expect a bigger and exciting beach volley tournament with 64 teams—32 each for the Visayas and Mindanao eliminations.

The top two teams in the men and women’s division from the Visayas and Mindanao legs will advance to the national finals in April in Boracay.