Petron beach volley unwraps at Puerto Princesa

Manila, Philippines - The 2011 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament returns to its favorite venue today – the Baywalk sandcourts of Puerto Princesa – to highlight the city’s annual “Pangalipay sa Baybay Festival.”

With more teams from Puerto Princesa taking part in this year’s second leg of the Petron volleyball circuit, organizer Tisha Abundo expects the local folk to come in droves to back their homegrown talents.

“We used to have just two teams from Puerto Princesa taking part in the tournament, but now, we’re having three teams. This is a testament to the city’s growing interest in the sport, thanks in part to our volleyball circuit’s twice-a-year visits to this wonderful place,” said Abundo.

Top-rate competition is expected in the second leg, what with former champions Pauline Genido and Amanda Cristina Isada of the University of the Philippines making a comeback to the fold, but each with a different partner in tow.

Genido and Isada will be at the forefront of the 10-team cast in the two-day spikefest supported by Mikasa Balls, Speedo and the City of Puerto Princesa, under Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

The 19-year-old Genido, an incoming physical education senior, will have newcomer and schoolmate Ana Maria del Mundo as her partner, while Isada, whose father Vip is the indoor coach of the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, will be with Carmela Lopez, also from UP.

Standing in the way of the UP Lady Maroons are San Beda College-Manila bets Janine Marciano and Coline Malana, who are joining with San Beda-Alabang standouts Jaymie Yap and Nicole de la Cruz.

Also expected to make their mark are first-leg semifinalists La Salle-Dasmariñas aspirants Ailene Abuel and Giselle Bembo, and so is University of the East veteran Jimberly Dizon, who is with new teammate Sarina Faith Bulan.

Others also expected to figure prominently are Letran’s Melissa Cu and Justin Mae Tadeo, plus the three Puerto Princesa teams.

“The veterans are expected to stamp their class, but the newcomers, including those from Puerto Princesa will surely want to break their dominance,” said Abundo. “I’m sure all volleyball enthusiasts here will be in for a treat.”

The top two teams will get berths to the Petron Volleyball National Ladies’ Tournament Finals, gathering leg champions and runners-up of the year in October.