PUERTO PRINCESA – Hannah Suarez let her younger partner Angela Benting take charge in the finals of the 2008 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions recently at the Baywalk sandcourts here.
The 19-year-old Benting’s power moves at the frontline enabled the pair from Adamson University to pull off a 21-19 win over University of the Philippines’ Danielle Michiko Castaneda and Lea Acepcion to crown themselves this year’s Petron volley queens.
After shattering an 18-all deadlock with a pair of service winners, Benting soared near the net and sent a topspin shot sailing past the heads of Castaneda and Acepcion for the winning point.
Her winning move came after Acepcion scored UP’s last point throw – a drop shot – in the finale of the volleyball series also backed by Mikasa, Speedo and the City of Puerto Princesa.
“We’re in top shape, we pulled through with our service and defense and we were able to focus our attacks on Lea (Acepcion),” said Benting.
This is Benting’s best finish this year after she and partner Pauline Soriano settled for fourth in a collegiate competition last month.
Mayor Edward Hagedorn gave P120,000 in cash prizes to the winners, the runners-up and other finishers a few minutes before he was to celebrate his 62nd birthday.
Suarez and Benting, who emerged unbeaten after six games, took home P25,000, the biggest pot ever awarded in the six-year spikefest.