Newcomers spice up Petron beach volley

MANILA, Philippines – A new batch of beach volleybelles will strut their stuff when the second leg of the 2009 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament reels off on Friday in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Organizer Tisha Abundo was joined yesterday by the participants of the volleyball extravaganza in announcing the Petron tourney at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s Restaurant in UN Avenue, Manila.       

“The essence of the sport of beach volleyball is toughness combined with beauty, and I think our tournament lives by that code,” said Abundo, who was a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

At stake in this two-day volleyfest sponsored by Petron, Speedo (official outfitter), Mikasa (official ball) and Puerto Princesa City, led by Mayor Edward Hagedorn, is the top prize of P10,000, plus seats in the Battle of Champions Grand Finals late in the year.

The hopefuls will be led by 17-year-old Maedel Mendoza, a champion volleybelle from the Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas team. She teams up with Verna Imbong.        

“This is good. This is going to be exciting,” said Mendoza yesterday in the PSA session, sponsored by Shakey’s, Accel, the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation and Outlast Battery.

The 21-year-old Imbong and Mendoza will keep their eyes on the likes of experienced University of the Philippines bets Mary Anne Panganiban and Lorraine Gail Chua, Rebecca Gail Montero and new partner Amanda Christina Isada.    

The two pairs lost to Far Eastern University bets Anna Abanto and Marigail Tolentino, who ruled the first leg at the University of the East Caloocan-Campus and clinched berths to the Battle of the Champions at season’s end.

Veteran UP teammates Southlyn Ramos and Pauline Genido are back to seek a seat in the grand finals after an unsuccessful stint in the first leg.

FEATI spikers Junielrin Reyes and Rosellia Moraga are also joining with City Colleges of Manila’s Diana Distajo and Renelyn Perez.

Emilio Aguinaldo College tandem Donna Mae Factor and Shiela Mae Sapalo will be around with La Salle-Dasmariñas duo Shiela Mae Nanquil and Rizza del Rosario, and so with two pairs from the Puerto Princesa.