Lady Maroons fancied in Petron beach volley

MANILA, Philippines - Playing with different partners this time, the teams of one-time champion Pauline Genido and Cristina Isada are favored to run away with the title in the second leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies beach volleyball tournament beginning tomorrow in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Genido will be teaming up with Ana Maria del Mundo, while Isada is paired with Carmela Lopez as all four banner the two squads carrying the colors of University of the Philippines.

Isada and Genido teamed up in ruling the second leg of the same spikefest two years ago.

The Lady Maroons are just two of the 10 teams seeing action.An incoming physical education student at the State University, Genido expressed confidence at the weekly PSA Forum in Shakey’s UN Ave. of winning the leg despite having a new playing partner.

“All we need is a little practice to get the feel of it,” said Genido, 19, in the public sports program presented by Smart, Outlast Battery, Pagcor and Shakey’s.

Isada, daughter of former race car champion Vip and now indoor coach of the UP Lady Maroons, will be playing with Lopez for the first time.

Lopez, however, has been a fixture in the nine-year old ladies beach volleyball meet supported by Mikasa Balls, Speedo and the City of Puerto Princesa under Mayor Edward Hagedorn, until she was sidelined by an injury last year.

Out to challenge UP’s supremacy are teams from San Beda-Manila, San Beda-Alabang standouts, La Salle-Dasmarinas, University of the East, and Letran.

Janine Marciano and Coline Malana banner the San Beda-Manila side, while it will be Jaymie Yap and Nicole dela Cruz for SBC-Alabang.

The duo of Ailene Abuel and Giselle Bembo of La Salle Dasmarinas are back after making it to the semifinals of the first leg, and so are University of the East bets Jimberly Dizon, who is with new teammate Sarina Faith Bulan.

For Letran, it will be Melissa Cu and partner Justin Mae Tadeo.

    Organizer Tisha Abundo, who was joined in the same forum by La Salle Dasmarinas sports director Gerry Sergio, said the two-day event coincides with the “Pangalipay sa Baybay’ celebration in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The third leg will be held in Lingayen, Pangasinan this July.