SANTA Rosa City, Laguna – Australian duo Jasmine Fleming and Elizabeth Alchin delivered a commanding performance against Alas Pilipinas’ Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola, claiming a 21-11, 21-13 victory during the qualifying round Thursday (28 Nov 2024) of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Challenge Nuvali.

Despite their best efforts, the 5-foot-9 Gaviola and 5-foot-7 Polidario struggled against their six-foot-tall opponents. Fleming and Alchin, currently ranked world No. 123, demonstrated their prowess after recent top finishes, including fifth at the Asian Seniors and seventh at the BPT Challenge in Chennai.

“While we’ve competed in several international tournaments, it’s clear that we still need more experience to excel,” said Gaviola, 26. “We followed the game plan, but there were moments where we fell short. We’ll address those lapses moving forward.”

In the men’s division, world No. 64 Australians D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse easily handled Filipinos Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino, 21-8, 21-10, securing their place in the main draw.

Filipino Players Eye Redemption

Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas’ Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda, ranked No. 125 in the world, begin their campaign in the main draw. The pair recently placed fifth in the AVC Beach Tour Taoyuan Open and ninth at the Asian Seniors and BPT Futures in Qingdao.

“This tournament presents a greater challenge than our past competitions,” said Orillaneda. “With top-ranked European and American teams in the mix, we have to bring our A-game.”

Top-Ranked Players Highlight the Event

The women’s division features world-class teams, including Paris Olympians Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette (world No. 22), and Ukrainian duo Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko (world No. 36), fresh off their win at the BPT Challenge Chennai. Australian champions Jana Milutinovic and Stefanie Fejes, who dominated the AVC Beach Tour earlier this year, are also strong contenders.

In the men’s division, Filipino silver medalists James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, along with Ran Abdilla and Lerry John Francisco, will face fierce competition, including the Bello twins from England, currently ranked world No. 17.

Organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, led by Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the tournament is a critical step for players vying for a spot in the elite Beach Pro Tour 16.

The action continues at Nuvali, with fans eager to see how Filipino teams fare against the world’s best.

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