La Salle-Dasma enters Petron volley semifinal

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle-Dasmariñas standouts Ailene Abuel and Giselle Bembo blotched what could have been University of the Philippines-2’s immaculate elimination-round campaign, pulling off a stunning 21-18 victory over the favorites in the 2011 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Baywalk sandcourts of Puerto Princesa.

The power-spiking Abuel and Bembo ended the three-game streak of UP-2’s Pauline Genido and Ana Maria del Mundo, to snatch the last ticket to the semifinals of this volleyball fiesta highlighting the city’s “Pangalipay sa Baybay Festival” celebration.

“Maybe they (Lady Maroons) were just tired,” said Abuel, a registered nurse, who is in her second year as a Human Biology student, downplaying her team’s victory – their third in four games – and tying their victims at second spot.

Despite the loss, Genido and Del Mundo still advanced to the semifinals, where they will meet the rampaging University of the East pair of Jimberly Dizon and Sarina Faith Bulan, who ended the elimination round toting a perfect 4-0 slate in this spikefest supported by Petron, Mikasa Balls, Speedo and the City of Puerto Princesa, under Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Dizon, a veteran of the Petron volleyball circuit but never a champion, and Bulan, an accounting sophomore, notched their fourth straight victory – a 21-8 drubbing of Puerto Princesa-3’s Cheryl Vanessa Onda and Sheena Estrada to clinch the No. 1 spot in the semifinal round.

In the other semifinal pairing, La Salle-Dasma, which also emerged champion in the recent Private Schools Athletic Association national games, plays UP-1’s Carmela Lopez and Amanda Isada, who advanced to the next phase after a 21-15 win over San Beda College-Alabang’s Jaymie Yap and Nicole de la Cruz and a 21-9 demolition of Puerto Princesa’s Onda and Estrada.

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

Lingayen, Pangasinan holds the tournament’s third leg.