Manila Hosts First International Beach Volleyball Event

          INAUGURAL EVENT DRAWS IN COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL TEAMS

          The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour will make a stop in the Philippines with the Manila Open 2018. The event is also the first internationally sanctioned Beach Volleyball event to be held in the country and follows last weekend's Langkawi Open in Malaysia.

          The inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour -- Manila Open 2018 will take place at the Sands SM by the Bay, SM Mall Of Asia (MOA) Complex, Pasay City in Metro Manila from 3 to 6 May 2018. Promoted by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd and organised by Beach Volleyball Republic, the competition will feature 48 elite international teams across the men and women's category from more than 20 countries. After Manila, the tour will head to Thailand for the Bangkok Open the following weekend (10 to 13 May 2018).

          In addition to competing for valuable ranking points, which also enables players a shot for a spot at the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals at the tail end of the year. The Manila Open will also see players contest for a share of the event's USD$10,000 prize purse.

          The four-day competition will commence with the men's single elimination qualification rounds on Thursday (3 May), to determine the four top qualifiers to join the teams already in the main draw. The women's competition will commence on Friday (4 May), together with the men's with the first pool phase of the competition featuring 32 matches across both categories. This will determine the second phase round of 12 and quarterfinals, which will take place on Saturday (5 May) with the action on Sunday (6 May) comprising the semi-final and medals decider matches.

          "After an exciting FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour -- Langkawi Open 2018 last weekend, we shift our focus to the first ever international beach volleyball competition in the Philippines. Taking place right in Metro Manila, we are extremely excited given the prospect of an intense and hotly contested competition on the cards!" notes Andrew Ching, Chief Executive Officer of E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd, the promoter and organizer of the tournament.

          More information and results from the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour -- Manila Open is available at http://worldtour.2018.fivb.com/en/573 .