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TAGUM: The 2008 Nestea Beach Volley National Circuit kicks off
Tuesday with the Mindanao eliminations at the Rotary Park here.
Defending men’s champion Mindanao State
University Tawi-Tawi, represented by veteran Yusop Abdulkarim and
younger brother Momoy, is expected to face a strong challenge from
Agusan Institute of Technology, Ateneo de Davao University, Capitol
University, Holy Cross of Davao College, Jose Maria College,
Mahardika Institute of Technology, Mindanao State University-Marawi,
Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College , University of Mindanao-Tagum,
Universidad de Zamboanga and Xavier University.
Momoy replaced Gabshar Tahiluddin, the 2007
Most Valuable Player who graduated last year.
The top four teams in the men’s and women’s
division will advance in the semifinals slated April 24 to 26 in
Boracay.
“This year’s national circuit promises to
bring more intense action as best collegiate teams all over the
country are expected to give their best shot for the title,” said
Nestle Assistant Vice-President and Nestea Consumer Marketing
Manager Tina Samaco.
A total of 72 teams from 43 colleges and
universities are seeing action in the annual tournament sanctioned
by the Philippine Volleyball Federation.
After the Mindanao eliminations, the Luzon teams
will compete on March 25 to 27 at the Island Cove Hotel and Leisure
Park in Cavite while teams from the Visayas will see action on April
8 to 10 at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod,
Former champions in the men’s division are
University of Santo Tomas (1997), San Sebastian College (1998 and
2003), Far Eastern University (1999), Letran College (2000), Foundation
University (2001) and Uniersity of San Jose-Recoletos (2002 and
2004), College of Saint Benilde (2005) and Adamson University (2006)
while previous titlists in the distaff side are University of the
Philippines (1997), UST (1998 to 1999), San Sebastian (2000 to
2001), Adamson (2002), Southwestern University (2003 to 2005),
Benilde (2006) and University of Visayas (2007).
Meanwhile, the Nestea Beach Volley also features
a clean-up drive in several beaches in the country to underscore its
commitment in promoting to save the environment.
-- Emil Noguerra
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