Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball much bigger this year — Abundo

Beauteous movie actress Isabel Granada, in a lovely swimsuit, leaps near the sideline to save the ball from going out of bounds, striking it sideways all the way to the other end, where print ad model Rosalina Gomez is waiting.

Gomez, whose fair complexion radiates under the rays of the afternoon sun, tries to repeat Granada’s power move, but fails to return the ball.

Score a point for Granada and her partner Marysol Teves.

This scene, plus a host of other awesome moves, will be on the spotlight once again in the 2004 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament, which erupts this time at the Clearwater Country Club in Pampanga on Feb. 21 to 22.

"The Petron Beach Volleyball is returning to the scene, bigger as ever," said Tisha Abundo, executive director of the organizing Volts Management Group. "For a season opener, we are taking the tournament at the heart of Pampanga, where many women athletes will now have a chance to witness and to some, be part of a top-rate volleyball competition."

Twenty teams are slated to compete in the Pampanga opener, and three squads from the roster will come from the host. Speedo is a major sponsor.

Abundo, a former Philippine Sports Commissioner, said that the primary aim of the Petron meet is to give all women athletes an avenue to showcase their skills, even after the competition days are over.

"We are not limiting our tournament to students only, and so we have a bigger base of athletes in our fold," said Abundo.

The Petron Beach Volleyball tournament established itself as a major event for women after three successful legs in 2003.

The first two legs of the volleyfest were held at the Island Cove Resort in Cavite, both won by the San Sebastian College pair of Patricia Siatan and Jennifer Bohawe. The third leg held at the La Salle-Greenhills sand courts was won by the Philippine Navy pair of Gretchel Deposoy and Aileen Ybanez.

"We have not only assembled some of the best volleyball players in the country today, we also made sure that they will be a feast to the eyes and senses," said Abundo.