Petron beach volleyball starts Feb. 21

Twenty beautiful ladies, 10 teams in one action-filled weekend.

In the aftermath of a successful maiden season, a bigger and better 2004 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball tournament kicks off on Feb. 21-22 at the Clearwater Country Club in Pampanga.

With defending champion San Sebastian not competing in the first of the four-leg series meet, competition is expected to be all out among the 10 participating teams, three of which will come from the host province.

"It’s a bigger edition of the meet as we’ll have more teams participating, and better in the sense that we’re planning to hold the battle of the champions on the fourth and final leg," said event organizer Tisha Abundo during yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion.

According to Abundo, the first leg will have the 10 teams being divided in to two groups, which play a single round elimination. The top two teams then square off in a winner-take-all championship.

The champion receives P10, 000 cash prize and a trophy, while the runner-up will get P5, 000 plus trophy.

Abundo, a former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) official, said the tournament aims to give women athletes an avenue to showcase their skills.

"The difference between this and the other beach volleyball tournaments is that we’re not limited to students only. Those who are already finished with their studies can still continue competing," added Abundo in the forum sponsored by Red Bull and Pagcor.

Print ad model Rosalina Gomez, a mestiza stunner, also appeared in the forum alongside her partner Joy Mijares. Though she’s a first timer, Gomez said, ?I think we have a real good chance of winning the championshiop.?

Out to crowd out the two for the title are the favored pair of movie actress Isabel Granada and Marysol Teves.