EAC, PCU advance to Petron semifinals

MANILA, Philippines - Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Donna Mae Factor and her new partner Anelyn Arroyo surprised two of their toughest opponents yesterday, pulling off convincing wins in the first leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Tournament at the wind-swept sand courts of the University of the East-Caloocan campus.

Their victories over La Salle-Dasmariñas bets Iari Yongco and Aileen Abuel and Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas standouts Alyanna Marie Gorospe and Ana Alicia Adolfo allowed them to reach the semifinal round.

The duo first pulled off a come-from-behind 21-17 beating of Yongco and Abuel before whipping Gorospe and Adolfo, 21-13, in this spikefest supported by Mikasa, Speedo and Petron.

Their last two wins allowed the 20-year-old Factor, an information technology student, and Arroyo, to top Group B with similar 3-1 win-loss record with Gorospe and Adolfo, who were relegated to second spot.

Against La Salle-Dasma, the 5’7” Factor, who is again playing the sport after a three-year absence, and Arroyo defied the imposing presence of the 5’10” Yongco and Abuel, charging back from a 12-17 deficit before sealing the win with an ace and two service winners.

Powerful service winners also allowed Factor and Arroyo to charge to a 7-0 lead over Gorospe and Adolfo en route to the win.

The two teams – EAC and PCU-Dasma – advanced to the semifinal phase, with Group A qualifiers Rizal Technological University pair Jessa Aranda and new teammate Katherine Jimena, and UE duo Krycel Cueva and Francislyn Cais.

Aranda, who recently won the National Capital Region Athletic Association title, and Jimena fought off Iumi Yongco and Mariel Desengano in their last match, 21-17, to end up first in Group A with a 3-1 slate.

Cueva and Cais, who had the same 3-1 record, took the second berth following a crucial 21-15 stopping of EAC-Manila’s Arianna Angustia and Charmille Belleze.

Using their familiarity of the UE sand courts, the Cueva and Cais forced Angustia and Belleze to three big errors, allowing them to shatter a 7-all tie and take a 13-7 lead.