UE's Paron, Cais claim beach volley crown

PUERTO Princesa City ,Philippines  – Jessica Paron and new partner Francislyn Cais came up with timely offensive moves to power University of the East-1 to a 21-18, 21-17 repulsing of University of the Philippines-2’s Pauline Genido and new teammate Liezchel Tiu to win the 2011 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions crown Wednesday evening at the Baywalk here.

Their run of victories totaled seven at the end of the two-day spikefest backed by Speedo, Mikasa and the City of Puerto Princesa, which celebrated the 65th birthday of Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

For Paron, this is her best finish in the tournament, after she and Jimberly Dizon made it to fifth place in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) beach volleyball competitions last month.

The UE pair took turns unleashing short and diagonal placements to their opponents’ right side, moves which allowed them to shatter a 14-all deadlock in the second set.

With Genido and Tiu forced into a series of errors, Paron and Cais were able to rally from a 12-14 deficit with seven straight points in the second set. They went on to take a 19-14 lead, but Tiu and Genido were still able to fight back with crosscourt returns and a service winner, forcing Cais into a net error.

But as the Lady Maroons threatened, 17-19, Cais and Paron parried a pair of UP attacks with short balls, keeping their rivals at bay for good at 21-17.

“We were targeting Tiu. But, her defense was good. And we were not effective doing that. So, we went for their right flank instead,” said Cais.

Cais and Paron, who reached the semifinals with Dizon in the second leg, received their trophy from Mayor Edward Hagedorn during a brief awarding ceremony at his well-attended 65th birthday celebration at the AA Plaza Hotel.

The 18-year-old Cais and the 17-year-old Paron made it to the semis after they waylaid La Salle-Dasmariñas bets Iumi Yongco and Jessa Fernandez of La Salle-Dasmariñas, 21-7.

Genido, who won the second leg also in Puerto Princesa with a different partner, earned a finals seat with Tiu after they got past UP-1 pair Amanda Isada and Joyce Palad, 21-19.