The opening day of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Challenge Nuvali saw Australian stars Jasmine Fleming and Elizabeth Alchin assert their dominance over Philippine pairs in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Ranked No. 123 in the world, Fleming and Alchin brought their height and experience to the fore, defeating Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola of Alas Pilipinas in straight sets, 21-11, 21-13. The Aussies’ powerful attacks and well-placed lobs were too much for the Filipinas to handle, setting the tone for the global competition ahead.

Even D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse, Australia’s recently-crowned Asian Senior Beach Volleyball champions, had to navigate the qualifiers. They made quick work of the Philippine pair Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino, cruising to a 21-8, 21-10 victory in just 28 minutes.

Local Athletes Take Lessons in Defeat
Despite their loss, Polidario and Gaviola held their heads high, acknowledging the valuable experience gained.

“We followed the game plan and did fine overall, but there were lapses we need to address,” said Gaviola, reflecting on their performance. “We still lack the international experience, but we’ll keep pushing to improve.”

Main Draw Features Philippine Elite Pair
As the competition intensifies, the spotlight shifts to Alas Pilipinas’ top women’s pair, Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda, ranked 125th in the world. Coming off strong finishes in the AVC Beach Tour Taoyuan Open and BPT Futures Qingdao, the duo faces a formidable field that includes top-ranked Olympians and European champions.

“This is a much bigger challenge than our previous tournaments,” said Orillaneda. “We’re competing against the best, so we need to be at our peak performance.”

Global Stars Take Center Stage
The women’s competition features heavyweights such as Paris Olympians Alexia Richard and Lézana Placette (World No. 22) and the Ukrainian duo of Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko, fresh off their victory at the BPT Challenge Chennai. Australian tandem Jana Milutinovic and Stefanie Fejes, champions of the AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open, are also in contention.

On the men’s side, Philippine silver medalists James Buytrago and Rancel Varga aim to build on their strong showing in April’s BPT Futures Nuvali, while Ran Abdilla and Lerry John Francisco look to make waves against elite competition. The field is headlined by England’s world No. 17-ranked Bello twins, Joaquin and Javier, fresh from their Elite 16 victory in Rio de Janeiro.

A Stage for Philippine Volleyball Development
Organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation under President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the event highlights the growth of beach volleyball in the country and serves as a platform for local athletes to compete against the world’s best.