Alas Pilipinas faced a challenging start at the Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championships, with both of the hosts’ teams falling in straight sets during Tuesday’s matches at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa.
In the men’s qualification round, Iran’s Salemiinjehboroun Bahman and Khakizadeh Abolhassan dominated the Philippines’ Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino, winning 21-8, 21-10.
Fifteen teams are competing for four available slots in the 24-team main draw of this event, hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, led by Tats Suzara, who also serves as president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Kaize Josephine Selvina Anasthasya and Melinda Novita Sari Devi defeated the Philippines’ Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola, 23-21, 21-15, in the women’s qualification round. Seven teams are vying for four spots in the women’s main draw.
In other men’s qualification matches, Nguyen Thanh Sang and Nguyen Hoang Long of Vietnam defeated Hong Kong’s Chong Keiloi and Wong Yingcheung, 21-17, 21-16.
Kazakhstan’s Mokhammad Abdulmajid and Ryukhov Klim overcame China’s Yuan Liu and Yuan Mao, 23-21, 21-12. Oman’s Al-Jalbubi Nouh and Alshereiqi Haitham narrowly edged out Vietnam’s Doan Gia Luan and Le Hoang Y, 18-21, 21-14, 15-13.
Lastly, China’s Song Jinyang and Zhang Tai defeated Vietnam’s Cao Nhat Minh and Tran Sinh Phan, 21-11, 21-18.
The Philippines also has two teams in each of the men’s and women’s main draws.
Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Ran Abdilla will once again team up with James Buytrago, while Rancel Varga partners with Lerry John Francisco.
In the women’s draw, Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara, along with Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor, are aiming for podium finishes.
