Manila: Australians Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic will return to the Philippines aiming for a second title in the 2024 Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships starting on November 5 at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
Fejes and Milutinovic, who beat compatriots Jasmine Fleming and Georgia Johnson, 21-19, 25-23, to claim victory in the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open in the same venue last April, will lead 19 other pairs in the six-day event hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).
PNVF and Asian Volleyball Confederation president Ramon ‘Tats’ Suzara said Friday that eight other teams will go through qualifying for the remaining four slots in the main draw.
Iran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab, the Nuvali Open men’s champions, are also coming back and will banner the 20 pairs already in the main draw.
The four open slots in the main draw will be contested by 19 pairs in the qualifying stage.
Others returning
are Fleming, who will team up with Elizabeth Alchin, and Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda of the Philippine Air Force, who reached the Round of 16 in the Nuvali Open.
Khylem Progella and Sofiah Pagara of the University of Santo Tomas are also in the main draw, while Philippine Army’s Alexa Polidario and Coast Guard’s Jenny Gaviola will go through the qualifying.
In the men’s division, James Buytrago will team up with fellow Southeast Asian Games veteran Ran Abdilla, while Rancel Varga will be paired with Lerry John Francisco.
Buytrago and Varga bagged the silver medal in the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures also last April.
Ronniel Rosales, who played for the University of Perpetual Help, will team up with former National University stalwart Edwin Tolentino.
Source: Philippines News agency
