SANTA ROSA, Laguna — National University (NU) cemented its dominance on the sand as Vilmarie Toos and Honey Grace Cordero outlasted a veteran Alas 1 pairing to claim the women’s championship at the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) Nuvali Open late Sunday night.
In a thrilling three-set final at the Nuvali Sand Courts, the NU tandem defeated Sunnie Villapando and Gen Eslapor, 21-13, 21-23, 15-11. The victory capped a flawless 6-0 tournament run for Toos and Cordero, who also bested the same Alas pair during the opening day of the competition.
The match was a showcase of resilience. After a dominant first set by NU, the Alas 1 duo—composed of Southeast Asian Games gold medalists playing together for the first time—fought back. Villapando and Eslapor erased two attack errors in the second frame and forced a decider thanks to a crucial kill by Villapando.
This victory is particularly special for Honey Grace Cordero, marking her first BVR on Tour title since 2023, and her first major circuit championship alongside Toos.
While the Alas women fell short, the Alas 1 men’s team of Ranran Abdilla and Ronniel Rosales left no doubt about their supremacy. The pair finished the tournament undefeated, sweeping Amigo’s Wayne Dionela and Rancel Varga, 21-13, 21-19, in the men’s final.
Abdilla’s veteran presence and Rosales’ power proved too much for the opposition, securing a perfect campaign for the national team standouts.
The BVR Nuvali Open continues to be a premier venue for developing local talent, pitting rising collegiate stars against the country’s top national athletes in a high-stakes environment.