MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ premier beach volleyball topurnament soon gets under way when the 15th Nestea Beach Volleyball tournament starts this month in some of the country’s world-class beaches.

A total of 96 schools will participate in the competition, making this edition the biggest since 1995, with Visayas schools Dumaguete Foundation University (men’s) and Central Philippine University (women’s) defending their crowns.

The first elimination leg will be in Mindanao at the Paradise Island in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Sur from Feb. 23 to 25.

The Visayas elimination leg is next at the HK Beach Resort in MoalBoal Cebu on March 9 to 11, while First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities in Tanauan City, Batangas, will be the venue of the Luzon (March 21 to 23) and National Capital Region (March 25 to 27) legs.

“There are now five legs in the competition, which gives more players from other provinces an opportunity to take part in this prestigious event,” Nestea marketing promotions and events executive Jose Manuel Santos said.

Conforming with the standards of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the tournament features 24 teams (12 each in the men’s and women’s division) in each regional leg. Each school is composed of two players and one coach.

The top three teams in each division from each leg will enter the finals which stakes a P100,000 cash prize per division.