Nestea Vis-Min elims kick off today

CEBU’s top teams are all geared to face their rivals in the first day of the 16th Nestea Beach Volley Visayas and Mindanao eliminations in Moalboal.

Mike Abria, who won last year’s national title for the University of the Visayas (UV), and his partner have been in Moalboal for a week to train and get acquainted with the sand courts.

“We have been working on our weaknesses because there is no room for mistakes in this tournament. They are using a single elimination tournament and maka pressure yet very challenging,” Abria said.

He added that the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Jade Illut and Jason Uy and University of Mindanao- Tagum College Hachallah Gilbuena and Jefty Amora, who finished second and third in the national finals last year, are also in this elimination round.

“We will be playing our best,” Abria said.

The defending women’s national finals champion Jovelyn Gonzaga and Fiola Mae Ceballos of Central Philippines University (CPU) are aiming for a grand slam in the Visayas and in the national finals but they are feeling the pressure because Gonzaga hasn’t trained that long.

Gonzaga was supposed to coach the team this year.

“The school management changed their minds and wanted me to play since this is my last Nestea beach volley tournament and they hope that we can win a grand slam,” said Gonzaga a 20-year-old graduating BS education student.

Gonzaga also said that she was asked to try out for the national women indoor team but she is waiting for an opportunity to be a member of the national beach volley team again.

“Gusto ko talaga sa beach volleyball. I will just wait kung kalian ulit magkakaroon nang national team,” Gonzaga said.

Meanwhile, Southwestern University will be fielding Danika Gendrauli and Raphril Aguilar, who are just got recruited to the national indoor volleyball team.

“This will be my first and my last Nestea beach volleyball tournament, that’s why I will have to give all of my best. Beach volleyball is very challenging compared to indoor because you need to be versatile,” Aguilar said.