San Beda, Perpetual win Petron volleyball opener

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines  -- Spikers from San Beda College-Alabang and University of Perpetual Help-GMA stamped their class Friday in the third leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament at the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Health and Sciences Campus.

Jayme Yap and Ai Bagamasbad, two newcomers from San Beda-Alabang, put away their Centro Escolar University rivals Anna Chua and Precious Uy, 21-14.

On the other hand, Perpetual Help-GMA’s Evarlene de Vera and Charlotte Diaz pounded on their foes’ endgame errors to edge San Beda-Manila’s Kimmie de la Vega and Debbie Dultra, 21-19.

Their victories allowed them to grab the early lead with World Universiade-bound teammates Jennifer Manzano and Satchel Senupe, who waylaid University of the East standouts Jimberly Dizon and Jessica Paron, 21-14.

Cavite Vice Gov. Recto Cantimbuhan was impressed with what he saw when he dropped by at the competition and joined the opening ceremonies with Col. Ariel Querubin, Petron public affairs head Charmaine Canillas, DLSU-D Health and Sciences general services director James Antonio and organizer Tisha Abundo.

The 20-year-old Yap, playing for the first time with Bagamasbad, slammed the ball at their rivals’ open middle with a couple of wide placement shots, breaking a 9-all deadlock in the first set.

Braving the mid-morning sun, the International Studies senior went on to unleash an ace and a winner, enabling them to eventually move out of range 14-9.

“This was our first time together but there’s no pressure. We just played our game and had fun. We concentrated on the middle open shots and this helped us pull away,” said Yap at the end of their first game in this spikefest supported by Petron, Mikasa Balls and Speedo.

De Vera and the bespectacled Diaz watched their foes crumble with errors as they fought their way out of a 19-all tie.

The power-smashing Manzano and Senupe, who will go to Shenzen, China this August to see action in the World Universiade, turned the tables on Dizon and Paron after the UE duo took a 4-1 advantage.

Manzano scored 10 points with her attacks as the La Salle-Dasmariñas duo took charge with a 14-6 edge en route to the win.

Champions and runners-up of the first three legs of the Petron circuit will face off in the Battle of the Champions this October in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, perennial host of the tournament’s second and fourth legs.