SANTA ROSA, Laguna – For former NBA player-turned-beach volleyball star Chase Budinger, the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begins at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge.
Budinger made his debut alongside new teammate Trevor Crabb on Thursday, opening their campaign with a dominant 21-9, 21-13 victory over Canada’s Luke de Greef and Tynann Gannett in Group B of the modified pool play at the Nuvali Sands Courts here.
“I mean, for me, the goal is the 2028 Olympics,” said 37-year-old Budinger, who is eyeing another stint with Team USA after competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Hosted at home, playing in front of the country is gonna be an amazing feeling, so that’s the ultimate goal to get to the Olympics and also try to medal there. You know I’ve been to one Olympics already, so I’m setting the standard a little higher now.”
Budinger, who hails from Encinitas, California, recently partnered with Crabb — a player he had competed against over the past couple of years — in hopes of securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and competing on beach volleyball’s biggest stage in front of his hometown crowd.
The 37-year-old blocker said the Nuvali Challenge serves as an important starting point for their partnership, allowing them to gauge their chemistry in competition.
While the conditions have been challenging due to intense heat, he noted that it will ultimately help them improve communication and adapt to different environments moving forward.
“It’s a stepping stone. First tournament for us. Just to get to know each other and get the feel of playing with each other. We haven’t had many practices together so we’re kinda learning on the fly, and this is a great tournament for us to do that,” said Budinger.
“It’s good. It’s high-level competition. With this heat, you know it’s gonna play a mental factor in this tournament. We really just need to dig deep, not let the heat get to you very much. We can play a little bit more consistently. So it’s gonna be a little different type of tournament because of those dynamics.”
He added that he is glad to be back in the Philippines for the second time, expressing appreciation for the warm reception and strong support from fans.
“It’s great, it’s great. I’ve been here once during the Olympic run. I love the tournament, it was amazing, so I was happy to be able to come back again. I love how the people are really nice, the accommodations are amazing, so I love playing here. Maybe I wish it wasn’t so hot, but besides that, everything’s great.”
