Petron volley resumes in Puerto Princesa

MANILA, Philippines - The second leg of the Petron Ladies’ beach volleyball tournament will be held at the Baywalk in Puerto Princesa on April 17-18, featuring a mix of veterans and newcomers vying for berths in the Battle of the Champions late in the year.

Organizer Tisha Abundo, a former national volley star and a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), announced the staging of the Petron volleyball circuit’s second leg at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum yesterday at the Shakey’s on UN Ave. 

“Puerto Princesa has been a major backer of the Petron volleyball circuit for three years now. It’s where we get massive crowds every time we play at its Baywalk,” said Abundo. “That is the reason why the girls are always excited to play there and give the Puerto Princesa people a good beach volleyball show.”

Leading the second-leg cast are former champions Jennifer Manzano and April Almaden of La Salle-Dasmariñas.

Manzano and Almaden, who led their team to the volleyball crown of the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA), were last year’s grand champions of the tournament. They will be joined in the second leg by their equally talented schoolmates Wensh Tiu and Regina Ann Tungol, and veteran Precious Grace Abano, who will team up with first-timer Aileen Abuel.

Also favored in the two-day volley tilt backed by Petron, Speedo, Mikasa and Molten balls and the City of Puerto Princesa, under Mayor Edward Hagedorn, are the University of the East tandem of Jimberly Dizon and Aimee dela Peña, and Ateneo’s Sharah Mae So and Khryzette Onishi, who will try to duplicate the first-leg title conquest of their teammate Asia Urquico.

Among the newcomers aside from Lady Patriot Abuel are San Beda College’s Coline Malana and Janine Nicol Marciano, Letran pairs Gena Keeshia Andaya and Marinelle Jane Carolino, and Marie Rose Burce and Justyne Mae Tadeo.