La Salle-Dasma sends 3 teams to Petron semis

PUERTO PRINCESA , Philippines  – All three veteran De La Salle-Dasmariñas teams advanced to the semifinals, which newcomer Letran surprisingly topped Sunday in the 2010 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament second leg at the Baywalk here.

Reigning national Petron champion Jennifer Manzano and April Almaden led the charge of the Lady Patriots in this night beach volleyball extravaganza backed by Speedo, Mikasa and the City of Puerto Princesa, led by Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

The 5’11” Manzano and Almaden bounced back from an opening-day loss to Letran pair Gena Andaya and Jane Marinelle Carolino as they lifted DLS-Dasma A to 4-1 mark. They needed to beat the Ateneo pair of Sharah So and Khryzette Onishi, 21-8, to gain the third slot in the semis.

Their teammates Wensh Tiu and Regina Tungol (La Salle-Dasma B) clinched the last spot in the semifinals, after another La Salle-Dasma (Team C) tandem of Aileen Abuel and Precious Grace Abano claimed the top spot in Bracket B with four wins and the second seat in the semifinals.

DLS-Dasmariñas C crushed the DLS-Dasmariñas B pair of Tiu and Tungol, 21-15, in their face-off for the no. 1 position in Bracket B and the second seat in the Final Four.

Lady Knights Andaya and Carolino continued to surge as they lifted the Letran to victories over University of the East, 21-14; Puerto Princesa A, 21-7, and Puerto Princesa 3, 21-11, to become the top qualifier in Group A.

Letran meets De La Salle-Dasmariñas B of Tiu and Tungol in the crossover semifinals, while Almaden and Manzano take on their schoolmates (Abano and Abuel) in the other semis pairing in this Petron volleyball circuit now entering its eighth year.