FEU early pick in Petron beach volleyball

MANILA, Philippines - Back-to-back UAAP women’s champion Far Eastern University looms as the favorite to rule the inaugural leg of the 2009 Petron Ladies Beach volleyball tournament that kicks off tomorrow at the UE Caloocan sand court.

The duo of Marigail Tolentino and Anna Camille Abanto was the consensus pick among the 10 teams representing eight schools to top the two-day meet slated Feb. 19-20 by virtue of its two straight title romp in the country’s premier collegiate league.

But the two Lady Tamaraws downplayed the prediction owing to the presence of other veteran teams especially those coming from the UAAP.

“It’s really difficult to predict because the girls are all competitive,” said Tolentino, easily among the stunners in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch where all of the participants appeared together with organizer Tisha Abundo and officials of newcomer Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Tolentino and Abanto are coming off a seven-game sweep of the UAAP tournament for a second straight championship.

Out to thwart them in their bid for the P10,000 champion’s purse at stake in the meet supported by Petron, Mikasa (official ball), Speedo (official outfit) and the UE Caloocan Athletic Department, are Battle of Champions finalist Lea Acepcion, who will have a new partner in Rebecca Gail Montero, reigning NCRAA titlist Jennifer Manzano and Niña Lopez of La Salle-Dasmariñas and last year’s first leg winner Ginaflor Alanguilan and Abigail Escandor of the University of the East.

The rest of the field seeing action in the meet’s seventh season are Jonalyn Garfin and Ma. Francia Demerin of TIP, Rizal Technological University’s Merichelle Tagudin and Claire Ann Cagampang, Dianne Destajo and Aira Mercado of Central College of Manila, Southlyn Ramos and Pauline Genido of UP, Pachie Gapa and Jassie Lauzon of EARIST and the other UE pair of Jimberly Dizon and April Soriano.