College stars clash in Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball today

MANILA, Philippines - Collegiate volley standouts mix it up today as the Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions fires off with late-afternoon matches at the Baywalk in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Ateneo mainstay Asia Urquico, with partner Jessica Morado, hopes to come out strong from an injury last year and dish out her best showing in the circuit.

On the other hand, Letran bets Geena Keeshia Andaya and Marinelle Jane Carolino are looking forward to another showdown with defending champion Jennifer Manzano and new teammate Satchel Senupe in this spikefest backed by Petron, Speedo, Mikasa, Fern-Slim and the City of Puerto Princesa, through Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

The two schools are among the 10 teams vying for top honors in the annual event and berths in the 26th Summer Universiade set in Shenzen, China Aug. 12-23, 2011.

The Petron event serves as a qualifying round for the Universiade, according to organizer Tisha Abundo, who got the approval of the Federation of School Sports Associations of the Philippines, the local arm of the Universiade.

“I’m excited. I am looking forward to playing my first game,” said the 20-year-old Urquico.

Andaya and Carolino are bringing in the experience they gained when they made it to the finals of a collegiate beach volleyball tournament last month. They also nearly pulled the rug from under Manzano and Senupe during the second-leg finals.

Other teams in the fold are University of Perpetual Help’s Jenilyn Aquino and Evarlene de Vera, Letran’s Marie Rose Burce and Melissa Cu, La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Hidemi Miyata and Aileen Abuel, and Manila spikers Jill Gustilo and Chona Cabral.