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Alas Pilipinas duos chase main draw berths in World Tour
Three Filipino women’s pairs and two men’s tandems are set to compete for main draw berths in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge 2025 qualifiers on Wednesday at the Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga, along with Edwin Tolentino and Larry John Francisco, open the men’s campaign at 9 a.m. against international opponents. Meanwhile, top Filipino duo James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla earned an automatic slot in the main draw as seeded entries.
ALAS PILIPINAS BEACH VOLLEYBALL
“It’s good that we are seeded in this event and we do not need to play in the qualification that will keep us fresh in the main draw,” said Buytrago, who, with Abdilla, captured bronze at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games. “We’re hoping to improve on our quarterfinal finish in last year’s BPT although it will not be easy. I’ll be playing with an injured index finger so we’ll just give our best.”
Buytrago and Abdilla are among 24 seeded pairs in the 32-team men’s main draw starting Thursday.
On the women’s side, Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario, Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, and Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor vie for qualification spots. Crowd favorites Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, ranked 137th in the world, are already assured of a place in the main draw.
The tournament, organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) under president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, features 65 men’s pairs from 25 nations and 46 women’s duos from 15 countries. Sweden’s Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson, the world’s No. 6 pair, return to defend their title.
