RTU bets favored in Petron volleyball

MANILA, Philippines - Rizal Technological University bets Julienne Abat and Jessa Aranda are expected to shine in the second leg of the 2012 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament.

A year’s worth of experience will be behind them when action begins on April 30 at the sand-courts fronting the provincial capitol grounds of Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Abat and Aranda made it as far as the semifinal round when they joined the Petron circuit’s first leg last year at the sand-courts of the University of the East-Caloocan campus.

After that, they made it to the finals and won the title in the National Capital Region Athletic Association (NCRAA) and the national crown in the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) meet in Iloilo last February.

Older and wiser, the two are expected to fight harder and smarter against younger rivals, who will get in their way during the two-day spikefest supported by Mikasa balls and Speedo.

“Hindi po ito ang first time namin mag-compete, sumali na po kami sa ibang legs at nag-champion kami sa national finals of a collegiate tournament. Sana po, from those experiences, makuha namin iyung titulo dito,” said the 19-year-old Abat, an incoming computer engineering senior.

Abat and Aranda talked about their coming stint during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, presented by Smart, the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and Shakey’s, at the Shakey’s Restaurant in UN Ave., Manila Tuesday.

Organizer Tisha Abundo said the 100-meter beachfront in front of Lingayen Gulf will provide a scenic backdrop for the competition, which will highlight the province’s “Pistay Dayat” Festival.

“This competition will be held on the occasion of the Pistay Dayat Festival. As I have observed, Lingayen Gulf  has a 100-meter stretch of beach in the area. So, there’s plenty of space of beach volleyball. And, it’s very ideal for playing the game,” said Abundo.

Newcomers from the College of St. Benilde, Perpetual Help-GMA, University of the East, La Salle-Dasmariñas and Assumption are also expected to make their presence felt. And, so will six provincial teams from Pangasinan and Baguio City.

Cindy Valencia and Rossan Fajardo will play for CSB, while Evarlene de Vera and Carmina Vegas see action for UPHS-GMA. The duo of Shiesa Nerbida and Marnilow Pedrosa is with UE.

Cherry Nunag and Jennifer Zarate suit up for La Salle-Dasmarinas, while Aeryn Rivera and Mary Joy Tagua are wearing the Assumption College colors.