Ladies bare skills in Petron beach volley today

An exciting spectacle of beauty and brawn unfolds today as the second leg of the 2004 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament gets going at the elegant Clearwater Country Club inside the Clark Development Corporation in Angeles City, Pampanga.

A total of 20 lovely ladies, divided into 10 teams, will pit their skills in the battle for honors and cash prizes in the two-day event organized by Voltz Management Group headed by Tisha Abundo.

"What we have in our cast are women, who are not only skillful, but are pleasing to the eyes. Their looks and skills make them stars in their own right," said Abundo, a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Clearwater management has also made sure that the especially constructed venue and accommodation for the participants are well suited to the players’ standards.

"Everything is set. We couldn’t wait for our players to strut their stuff at our sand-courts," said Clearwater’s assistant CEO Ike Madamba.

A drawing of lots is scheduled early today to determine the pairings in the tournament supported by Petron and backed by Nissan. Wilson is the official ball.

Picked to dominate the second leg are Americans Jessica Joy Nelson and Haley Shaw, both of Faith Academy.

Nelson is a 5-foot-10 looker whose exceptional ability earned her a full scholarship at the Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia to play Division 1 collegiate volleyball next schoolyear.

Tipped to provide tough opposition to the Nelson-Shaw tandem in the battle for the champion’s purse of P10,000 in the four-leg tourney are University of the Philippines’ Karla San Diego and partner Jackie Ann Monteferio.

San Diego, a 5-foot-7 stunner, is armed with long years of experience, having played the sport since elementary.

The other participants are Lou Maranon and Gamela Septo, Sherri Ann Garcia and Sherly Abello; Johanna Carpio and Helen Dosdos; Michel Querubin and Rosalina Gomez; Candy Quimada and Shiela Salaysay; Roma Angelina Hofilena and Suzzanne Roces; Sharon Ledesma and Hegazel Herrera and Ropalyn Sebastian and Lalaine Victoria.