Petron volleyball erupts today in Puerto Princesa

MANILA, Philippines - The Baywalk of Puerto Princesa will be teeming with beach babes and enthusiastic crowds when the 2010 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament – now on its eighth year – holds its second leg today.

Organizer Tisha Abundo, a national volleyball star herself during her prime and a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, said the 10-team, 20-spiker cast is raring to strut its stuff before another massive throng of Palaweños.

“Here (Puerto Princesa) is where we get our best crowds. That is why the girls have an extra reason to give it their all because they know people are cheering them on,” said Abundo.

Leading favorites are tall and dusky Jennifer Manzano and April Almaden, the La Salle-Dasmariñas pair which romped away with the Petron Battle of the Champions tiara last year.

Manzano and Almaden, who also led their team to the volleyball crown of the NCR Athletic Association, will be hard-pressed to duplicate their feat, against schoolmates Wensh Tiu and Regina Ann Tungol, and Precious Grace Abano and Aileen Abuel – all of whom know how the champs operate.

 “It won’t be a walk in the park this time around, because our teammates who actually know how to neutralize us, will also be there to dispute the second-leg crown,” said the 5’11” Manzano.

 Aside from the Lady Patriots, also picked to figure prominently in the two-day volleyball extravaganza backed by Petron, Speedo, Mikasa and the City of Puerto Princesa, under Mayor Edward Hagedorn, are University of the East’s Jimberly Dizon and Aimee dela Peña, and Ateneo’s Sharah Mae So and Khryzette Onishi.

Joining the fray are newcomers Coline Malana and Janine Nicol Marciano of San Beda College, together with Gena Keeshia Andaya and Marinelle Jane Carolino, and Marie Rose Burce and Justyne Mae Tadeo – all from Letran.