Puerto Princesa bets win Petron volley

PUERTO Princesa City, Philippines – A pair of students from Palawan State University humbled their rivals to rule the 2011 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions at the Baywalk here.

Eighteen-year-old Ganilen Clarianes and Clianne Dacuan stunned last year’s runner-up Marinelle Jane Carolino and new partner Sarah Jane Espelita, 21-15, Tuesday night in one of the event’s opening encounters.

Clarianes and Dacuan fought back from four points down and leaned on placements shots at the net to hold off their rivals from Letran College, 15-8.

Their victory in Group A allowed Clarianes and Dacuan to bounce back from a close 19-21 loss to La Salle-Dasmariñas standouts Iari Yongco and Giselle Bembo.

Clarianes and Dacuan joined top bets Francislyn Cais and Jessica Paron of the University of the East in the race for a semifinal seat. They share the same 1-1 record with Yongco and Bembo, Carolino and Espelita in Group A of this tournament supported by Speedo, Mikasa and the City of Puerto Princesa, which is celebrating the 65th birthday of Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Cais and Paron carved out a 21-14 win over University of the Philippines-A’s Amanda Isada and Joyce Palad, and the duo of Yongco and Bembo, 21-19, to grab the solo lead in Group A.

In Group B, Iari’s younger sister and La Salle-Dasmarinas spiker Iumi Yongco joined hands with Jessa Fernandez in taking the early lead in Group B. They first pulled off a 21-8 subduing of Puerto Princesa C’s Princess Fontella and Matet Gueruela, before stopping UE-B’s Mary Grace Masangkay and Leusht Dawis, Second-leg champion Pauline Genido and new teammate Liezchel Tiu got off to a strong start as they got past Dawis and Masangkay, 21-12.

Puerto Princesa B’s Sheena Estrada and Rina Oliranes kept up with Genido and Tiu with their 21-11 triumph over Fontella and Gueruela.

“Gumana ang mga short balls at drop balls namin sa kanila,” said the Clarianes, a Tourism sophomore.

Carolino, who took the runner-up honors recently in a collegiate tournament with another partner, fell behind when Clarianes and Dacuan forced their rivals to errors at the net, tyingthe match thrice.

Dacuan, a marketing freshman, then scored two points, first with a service winner during a 6-0 spurt, which shattered a 14-all deadlock in the ensuing play. It was Dacuan’s cross court drop shot from the net which later sealed the win for her team.