Alas Pilipinas battles for podium spots in Asian Senior Beach Volleyball tourney

Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic of Australia will return to the country to defend their titles as Alas Pilipinas competes for podium spots in the 2024 Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships, which will begin on November 5 at the Nuvali Sand Courts in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Together with 19 other women’s tandems, the Australian duo, who won the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open in April, has confirmed their attendance at the six-day competition sponsored by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation or PNVF.

According to PNVF and AVC president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, eight additional women’s teams will qualify for the final four spots in the main event.

Philippine Air Force duo Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda, who reached the Round of 16 last summer, will banner the Philippines once again with University of Santo Tomas teammates Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara also in the main draw of the competition.

Philippine Army’s Alexa Polidario and Coast Guard’s Jenny Gaviola will vie for a spot in the qualifying tournament as well.

In the Alas Pilipinas men’s side, the PNVF beach volleyball program also changed things up by putting Southeast Asian Games veterans Ran Abadilla and James Buytrago together.

Rancel Varga, who netted the silver medal with Buytrago in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball or FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in April, pairs up with Lerry John Franciso.

Additionally, ex-University of Perpetual Help standout Ronniel Rosales and former National University player Edwin Tolentino are also taking part in the men’s qualifiers.