UE spikers notch two wins in Petron volley

MANILA, Philippines - University of the East veteran Jimberly Dizon and new partner Sarina Faith Bulan sent a strong message to the field that they mean business this time, notching two victories at the start of the 2011 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Baywalk sandcourts of Puerto Princesa.

Dizon, a veteran of the Petron volleyball circuit but never a champion, used a variety to moves to lead her team to back-to-back wins in this two-day volleyball extravaganza highlighting the city’s “Pangalipay sa Baybay Festival” celebration.

With Dizon and Bulan, an accounting sophomore, blending perfectly right in their first game as a team, the UE pair crushed San Beda College-Alabang’s Jaymie Yap and Nicole de la Cruz, 21-9, before trouncing University of the Philippines-1 favorites Amanda Isada and Carmela Lopez, 21-10.

“There was constant communication inside between me and my teammate and that proved to be key,” said Dizon, an International Studies senior. “Kaya nagkatulungan kami sa loob.”

University of the Philippines-2’s Pauline Genido and new partner Ana Maria del Mundo, matched UE’s unbeaten 2-0 slate in the 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, and Del Mundo found Puerto Princesa-1 a tough nut to crack before prevailing, 21-18.

They had an easier 21-12 demolition of Letran’s Melissa Cu and Justin Mae Tadeo, who earlier beat San Beda College-Manila’s Janine Marciano and Coline Malana, 21-16.

In other results, UP-1 waylaid Puerto Princesa-2, 21-5, while San Beda-Alabang dumped Puerto Princesa-3, 21-10.

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