LANGKAWI OPEN WINNERS OVERCOME QUALIFICATION MATCHES
MANILA, Philippines, May 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The first of the weekend's action for the Federation Internationale de Volleyball(FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour -- Manila Open 2018 got underway today with the men's single elimination qualification matches. Taking place at Sands SM by the Bay, SM Mall Of Asia(MOA) Complex, it was an intense affair for the 16 men's teams involved to determine the four teams to join the 12 teams already in the main draw.
With wins in both matches, the teams that made it through to the main draw for Friday's pool phase of the competition are Felix Friedl/Maximilian Trummer(AUT); Max-Jonas Karpa/Milan Sievers(GER), Alejandro Huerta Pastor/Javier Huerta Pastor(ESP) and Jorg Wutzl/Simon Fruhbauer (AUS).
Young Austrian pair, Friedl/Trummer(AUT) defeated Ludvig Simonsson/Linus Frantzich(SWE) in straight sets then outlasting Cameron Wheelan/Felipe Humana-Paredes(CAN) to book their main draw spot.
Germans Karpa/Sievers made it through to the main draw after defeating Mitchell Wakefield/Justin Schumann(AUS) and winning over Leo Williams/Mthokozisi Mndingi(RSA). Brothers Alejandro/Javier Huerta Pastor(ESP) are through to the main draw after overcoming Singapore's Fan Yang Mark Shen/Pei Jie Poon(SIN) and Austrians Moritz Fabian Kindl/Marian Klaffinger(AUT).
Langkawi Open 2018 winners, Wutzl/Fruhbauer are also through after edging out Paul Becker/Eric Stadie(GER) and Langkawi silver-medallists Petr Bakhnar/Taras Myskiv(RUS). "We feel really good after getting through. It was really complicated playing Russia, they had really good tactic changes and it was very hard for us to adapt, but in the end we prevailed," comments the pair.
"It has been a scorching day of action to kick off the inaugural FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour -- Manila Open 2018! The level and quality of the men's teams competing for a spot in the main draw has been truly impressive. Featuring match-ups that included teams that were all in the thick of the action last weekend, we can definitely expect a really intense day of competition tomorrow!" notes Andrew Ching, Chief Executive Officer of E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd, tournament promoters.
"It is such a nice feeling to see it all come together and is heartwarming especially looking at the response on social media! We could not have done it without the support of E-Plus Global and all the incredible support. We have learned so much and cannot wait to apply as we go along,"comments Angeline Gervacio, co-founder Beach Volleyball Republic(BVR), Manila Open 2018 organisers.
