The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Elite 16 champion English brothers Javier and Joaquin Bello return to the country in the Beach Pro Tour Challenge this week from October 15 to 19 at the Nuvali Sands Court by the Ayala Land in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Ranked 19th among the 65 men’s participants coming from 25 countries in the tournament hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), the Bello brothers seek for redemption and glory in the Philippines.
“The Bello brothers are coming,” PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara announced on Monday just a few days before the main draw competition begins on Wednesday. “Just like the rest of the participants, they are here to provide quality beach volleyball competitions.”
After winning the BPT Elite 16 in Rio last November 2024, the duo competed in last year’s BPT Challenge last December but settled only for bronze medal after winning the battle for third against Timo Hammarberg and Philipp Wallar of Austria, 2-1.
They lost to the German pair of Paul Henning and Lui Wust, 0-2, in the semifinal of last year tourney.
Now, the English pair are hoping to change their fortune this time, but they are one of the targets of the other countries including host Philippines that will parade three pairs headed by 2023 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Ran Abdilla and James Buytrago, Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga, and Edwin Tolentino and Larry John Francisco.
World’s No. 6 Swedish tandem Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson try to defend their men’s crown as well in last year’s Challenge Cup as they return to the country for their back-to-back title campaign.
“We would like to thank the Ayala and Nuvali for hosting another world class beach volleyball competition in their venue,” Suzara added. “The level of the beach volleyball competition is just become more intense and higher than ever.”
Meanwhile, Team USA submitted five pairs without Challenge champion Toni Rodriguez and Molly Shaw in this week’s Philippine leg when it vies for the women’s category composed of 15 countries that include a total of 46 pairs.
Host Philippines parades 137th rank Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario, and Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, and Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor in the women’s class.