MANILA, Philippines — LOCAL volleyball fans get to witness inspiring success stories and world-class action in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge Nuvali starting Thursday in the City of Santa Rosa.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation brings top-level competition once more at Nuvali Sand Courts, featuring FIVB-rated teams across the globe and Alas Pilipinas vying for a share of the limelight.

English twins Joaquin and Javier Bello, who proved that persistence pays off as they completed a dramatic run from the qualifiers to the top of the podium in the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16 Rio de Janeiro a few weeks ago, head the field in the in four-day Santa Rosa tournament featuring 24 teams each in the main draw of the men's and women's sides — both offering $75,000 prize purses.

The World No. 17 pair seeks another title in the Pro Tour against other top teams that are also entering the event in high spirits after wins around the world. Americans Trevor Crabb and Theo Brunner, the world No. 23, gun for another BPT Challenge title after winning in Guadalajara in April.

Italy's Gianluca Dal Corso and Marco Viscovich look to add to their haul after earning two BPT Futures titles, the World No. 32 pair winning home tournaments in Corigliano Rossano in August and Cervia in May.

World No. 43 Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson of Sweden are also among the teams to watch as they gun for another win after topping the BPT Challenge Chennai India last week.

Alas Pilipinas has brought the charismatic James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, who made an inspiring run to the silver medal in the BPT Futures Nuvali in April, back together after playing with different partners in the Asian Senior Championship three weeks ago.

Buytrago and Varga, now ranked 141, hope to find the same magic as they compete in the tournament organized by the PNVF headed by Ramon "Tats" Suzara, who is also president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and Executive Vice President of volleyball's world governing body Fédération Internationale de Volleyball.

Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Ran Abdilla is tasked to guide Alas Pilipinas new guy Lerry John Francisco, while a third Philippine pair in Ronniel Rosales and Edwin Tolentino is also in the field.

Alas Pilipinas top pair Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor are entered in the women's event along with Alexa Polidario and Jen Gaviola.

Also among the teams to watch are Philipp Huster and Maximilian Just, wht world No. 72 and winners of the 2024 World University Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

World No. 44 Vinicius and Heitor of Brazil, 45th-ranked Ardis Bedritis and Artūrs Rinkevičs of Latvia, No. 65 Netitorn Muneekul and Wachirawit Muadpha of Thailand are also in the field. TMT