Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño have become household names in the country’s beach volleyball scene and they credit their stint in Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) for their growth.
Hailing from Iloilo, the two players made it big in 2016 when they became regulars in the BVR on Tour, consistently churning out podium finishes in every leg.
“BVR is one of the popular beach volleyball leagues in the country. It paved the way for us players from the province to show what we can do in the sport, and against good players from Manila,” said Ms. Estoquia in Filipino as she shared the big role the league has played in her career.
“The BVR really honed our skills, allowing us to play in the National Championship where you really have to play your best,” she added.
And their steady good showing in the league, Ms. Demontaño said, prepared them to compete in other local leagues and international tournaments.
“Playing in BVR was one of the turning points of my beach volleyball career because it paved the way for local players like me to show our skills and play against the best players locally and internationally,” said Demontaño, who currently plays for Sta. Lucia along with Ms. Estoquia.
Misses Estoquia and Demontaño are just two of the many BVR players coming from the Visayas who are steadily making a name for themselves, the others being Negros Occidental products Alexa Polidario, Erjane Magdato and Jennifer Cosas.
BVR was formed in 2015 by former Ateneo players, led by Philippine National Volleyball Federation board member Charo Soriano.
It organizes beach volleyball tournaments in different parts of the country with the end view of growing the sport among Filipinos.
Just like most in the local sports scene, BVR was affected by the pandemic last year but is planning to make a comeback in 2021. – Michael Angelo S. Murillo