DASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines – Giselle Bembo and Maribeth Lara used their familiarity with their home sand-court as they came up with precise hits to dominate the first leg of the 11th Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament at the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute campus here.
They capped their five-game winning run with a 21-17 stopping of Rizal Technological University-1 spikers Jessa Aranda and Jonafer San Pedro in this beach volley extravaganza backed by Petron and Mikasa Balls.
The win allowed Bembo to claim her second title with a new partner. She and former teammate Jennifer Manzano took the title last year at the expense of University of the East bets Francislyn Cais and Jessica Paron.
After Aranda and San Pedro threatened for the last time at 7-9, when Lara’s placement shot went out of bounds, the La Salle-Dasma bets unleashed seven straight points, three on kills by Lara, plus two service winners by Bembo, to cut loose at 16-7.
“Masaya kami sa panalo. Hindi namin inaasahan ito,†said Bembo, a 20-year-old mass communications student.
The RTU bets still managed to stage a comeback late in the game.
With the Lady Patriots enjoying an 18-11 lead, Lara’s return shot went wide in the next play, giving the RTU volleybelles a chance to rally to within two at 16-18 on Aranda’s two aces.
Lara’s service winner, followed by a wide, crosscourt spike by Aranda then settled the game in favor of DLSU-D 2 at 20-16.
After Bembo and Lara completed a three-game sweep of the Group A in the eliminations, they made their way into the finals after repulsing the Yongco sisters Iari and Iumi, 21-16, in the semifinals.
Aranda and San Pedro, on the other hand, turned back promising Philippine School of Business Administration spikers Naomi Lei Otoshi and Joan Marvie Morata, 21-8, in the other semis playoff.
Winners and runners-up of each of the volleyball leg will earn berths in the Petron Battle of Champions at year’s end.