A new generation of Filipino beach volleyball talent is making waves. Alas Pilipinas’ Kat Epa and Honey Grace Cordero, alongside Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara, booked their spots in the Round of 12 at the 2025 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures Nuvali, held at the Nuvali Sand Courts.

Epa and Cordero, representing UAAP powerhouse National University, outlasted Israel’s Ronni Rivka Lavie and Anita Dave in a 51-minute thriller, 21-15, 14-21, 15-9. Despite heat and wind affecting the rhythm in the second set, the Filipina duo rallied in the decider with clutch passing and well-timed attacks.

“It was pretty difficult in the second…I had trouble passing,” admitted Cordero. “But in the third, I just told myself I had to make up for those mistakes.”

Meanwhile, Progella and Pagara, silver medalists in the UAAP, stunned the Netherlands’ Danieke Prins and Annemieke Driessen in another come-from-behind victory, 23-25, 21-11, 15-10. The Filipinas’ speed and composure in the face of veteran tactics proved decisive.

“They were intimidating and played at a slow pace,” said Progella. “But we knew we had to adjust and play our game.”

Also joining the march to the next round are James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, who took down Hungary’s Domonkos Doczi and Bence Attila Streli, 21-15, 21-19. The former BPT Futures silver medalists used familiarity and improved chemistry to outwork the 2024 BPT Qingdao champions.

Not all Filipino bets found success. SEA Games bronze medalists Jaron Requinton and Jude Garcia were eliminated by American duo David Wieczorek and John Schwengel. Other teams, including Villapando-Gaviola and Polidario-Rodriguez, also bowed out after tough matchups against Japanese and Latvian teams, respectively.