Petron ladies beach volleyball starts

MANILA, Philippines - The first leg of the 2010 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament reels off today at DLSU-Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas, Cavite with a new set of participants raring to pit skills with the circuit’s veterans.

A total of 20 ladies with the looks and natural talent for the game will be divided into 10 teams to dispute the first leg championship of this novel open tournament, which has become one of the most-anticipated beach volleyball competitions in the country today.

Organizer Tisha Abundo, a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission and a national team volleyball star herself, said the drawing of lots on which team faces who will be held early morning today before the actual kickoff at 9 a.m.

“We are looking forward to another exciting two days of volleyball action right at the heart of Cavite,” said Abundo.

The top two teams get automatic berths to the Petron Volleyball Battle of Champions late this year, gathering past champions of the series in a grand finale that will finally determine the true queens of the sand-courts.

Favored in the first leg are Asia Urquico and new partner Jessica Morado, Ateneo standouts who are doing something extra to prepare for the opposition, which includes collegiate champion Ana Alicia Adolfo and teammate Alyanna Marie Gorospe.

Over the last three months, the two have joined the Ateneo athletics’ team, with the 18-year old Urquico doing some hammer throwing and teammate Morado working with her jumps.

 “Our training is different. We are concentrating on power and speed,” said Urquico.

They will have their hands full against five new pairs in this spikefest, also supported by Mikasa Balls and Speedo.

Urquico played last year with Sharah, who topped the third leg last year. This time, So will partner with Khryzette Onishi.

University of the East spiker Mary Ann Balmaceda and Francesca Crescini are also joining with schoolmates, Jessica Paron and Aimee de la Peña, along with Polytechnic University of the Philippines standouts Ferlyn Hermoso and Melanie Lumanlan.

Philippine Women’s University’s Suzanne Navarro and Lucille Pael are also entered with San Beda Alabang’s Nicole de la Cruz and Ana Karissa Villablanca, and the duo of Joanne Castillo and Jaymie Yap, along with Dyrene Rose Benecio and Joan Morata of the Philippine School of Business Administration.