With the start of the much-anticipated 2021 Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge this month, Negros will try their luck with two squads representing Western Visayas.

The team is comprised of Former University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R) standouts who will banner the two Abanse Negrense squads.

The first team will be led by the tested pair of Alexa Polidario and Erjane Magdato, while the other squad will be represented by Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva. Jason Delmo will serve as the head coach.

The duo of Polidario and Magdato is tested and proven as they already produced numerous beach volleyball championships since their days with UNO-R. Cosas and Villanueva, on the other hand, have also partnered in some local matches before.

All games will kick off in Subic, Zambales. Before their trip, the Negrense delegates made a courtesy call to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.

“I am expecting them to carry the Negrense colors with great pride in this tournament. It is also important that the Negros Team will be the ‘most sportsmanlike’ team in the tournament. However, I also expect both the Negros teams to face each other in the finals,” he added.

But the chase for the finals will not be that easy for the two teams as they will face powerhouse volleybelles in the tournament.

PSL mainstay’s Sta. Lucia Lady Realtors and United Auctioneers Incorporated, which represents Chery Tiggo, will have two teams each. The F2 Logistics Cargo Movers will field in one team.

 The 2021 Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge slated on Feb. 26 to 28 at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Administration in Zambales is the first official volleyball tournament that will be played since the lockdown last year.IMT