PUERTO PRINCESA , Philippines – University of the Philippines’ Pau Genido and new partner Amanda Isada advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 Petron Ladies’ beach volleyball tournament’s fourth and final leg at the Baywalk here.
Genido, winner of the circuit’s second-leg with then partner Southlyn Ramos, thus moved a win from advancing to the finals following two victories in the elimination round, including a dramatic 23-21 decision over Puerto Princesa bets Vanessa Onda and Stanely Alipoon.
The Genido-Isada tandem battles De La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Wensh Tiu and Regina Tungol in the semis of the event backed by Petron, Speedo, Mikasa and the City of Puerto Princesa.
The winners faces third-round champions Jennifer Manzano and April Almaden, also of De La Salle-Dasmariñas, for the crown.
The tournament, dubbed as the Battle of the Champions and sponsored by Mikasa Balls, Speedo and the City of Puerto Princesa, is held in conjunction with Mayor Edward Hagedorn’s birthday celebration.
It also aims to promote Puerto Princesa’s Subterranean Underground River as a world heritage site and one of the finalists in the global search for the New 7 Wonders of Nature.
The Manzano-Almaden duo clinched an outright championship seat after a sweep of the elims.
The Lady Patriots pair powered its way to the finals following wins over schoolmates Precious Grace Abano and Satchel Cenupe, 21-19; and then over Tiu and Tungol, 21-19, and finally against UP’s Genido and Isada, 21-14.