Dela Noche, Iraya banner PH team
THE Philippines will parade a team for the first time in this week’s Asian U19 and U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Young standouts Jayrack Dela Noche and Alexander Iraya, natives of Victorias City in Negros Occidental, left the country on Monday afternoon as they vie in the two major youth continental tournaments.
Both players were tested negative in the swab tests and have started training yesterday.
The 3rd Asian U19 Beach Volleyball Championships, a qualification tournament for FIVB U19 Beach Volleyball World Championships, is set on July 3-6, while the 4th Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships, a qualifier for FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships, is scheduled on July 12-15.
Nakhon Pathom recently hosted the AVC Continental Cup Final, where China and Australia booked the lone women and men’s slots to the Tokyo Olympics.
The Philippines competed in the said Olympic qualifier, where the men’s team won over Lebanon before bowing to Australia, while the women’s squad put up a gallant stand against New Zealand.
Dela Noche and Iraya trained in their province under the supervision of head coach Dondon Verayo and Teshi Ea.
The two players are standouts from the University of Santo Tomas high school boys beach volleyball team mentored by national team head coach Paul Jan Doloiras.
Dela Noche and Iraya also took part of the national beach volleyball tryouts in Subic last April.
