Letran bets shock Petron volley favorites

PUERTO Princesa, Philippines – Newcomer Letran stunned the oldtimers, including the reigning national champions from De La Salle University-Dasmarinas as the second leg of the 2010 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament erupted before another huge crowd at the Baywalk here late Saturday night.

Gena Keeshia Andaya and Marinelle Jane Carolino rocked the night tournament with surprising victories over the Lady Patriots national champions Jennifer Manzano and April Almaden, 21-17, and then over Ateneo Lady Eagles Sharah Mae So and Khryzette Onishi, 21-10, to send a strong message in the tournament backed by Petron, Speedo, Mikasa and the City of Puerto Princesa, under Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Andaya, a financial management student, and Carolino, who is taking up marketing, used better sand-court coverage and patient setup plays to surprise last year’s Petron national champions, who are also the reigning NCR Athletic Association and Unigames volleyball queens.

“We didn’t expect to win although we led by five (18-13) at one point,” said the 20-year-old Carolino. “But we just sicked to our usual game and hung on. We need these wins to boost our morale in the second round.”

However, Almaden and the 5-11 Manzano recovered with a 21-11 win over Puerto Princesa 3’s Vanessa Onda-Stanley Alipon. They had an earlier victory to show – a 21-14 shellacking of Puerto Princesa 1’s Crisalve Javares and Pamela Ibanez for a 2-1 mark.

The champs’ schoolmates Wensh Tiu and Regina matched the Lady Knights’ first-round romp following triumphs over Puerto Princesa 2’s Angeline Heredia and Sheena Estrada (21-13) and San Beda College’s Coline Malana and Janine Nicol Marciano (21-12).

Also notching two wins were Lady Patriots Precious Grace Abano and Aileen Abuel, who beat Letran 2’s Marie Rose Burce and Justyne Mae Tadeo, 21-10, and Puerto Princesa 2, 21-16.

In other results, Ateneo’s So and Onishi took a 22-20 win over Jimberly Dizon and Aimee dela Pena, who bounced back with a 21-10 drubbing of Puerto Princesa 1.   San Beda College crushe Letran’s Tadeo and Burce, 21-6.