Pangasinan spikers face uphill battle in Petron tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinense spikers Melanie Carrera and Cindy Benitez will have their hands full when they take on a strong cast all raring to foil them in the final leg of the 2014 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament at the sand-courts of the University of the East-Caloocan campus starting Friday.

Carrera, who teamed up with another partner in Cassandra Lleda to win the circuit’s second-leg held right at their home turf last year, will be out to prove that they can win anywhere in this beach volleyball extravaganza supported by Petron and Mikasa Balls.             

A semifinalist in the second leg this year, Carrera is seeking her second crown after she and Lleda took the title last year right at their home turf. Benitez, on the other hand, was a teammate of veteran Jennifer Manzano, when they won the Battle of the Champions’ grand title two years ago.

“Coming out of their hometown to play in the finals away from their comfort zone will be a challenge for them,” Tisha Abundo, a former commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, told scribes at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Shakey’s Restaurant in Malate, Manila. “Everyone’s out to get them.”

Another Pangasinan tandem in veterans Maria Nieza Viray and Jiezela Viray will join the fourth-leg cast.

The other winners of the earlier legs won’t be around to pit guts and skills with the tossers from the North due to an ongoing collegiate tournament, where they are playing, but their absence is expected to be filled up nicely by the strong cast.

University of the East Lhen Cais and Krysel Cueva, semifinalists in the third leg, are also expected to provide tough competition against the Pangasinan teams.

Also joining the fray are Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina 1 bets Shirley Martinez and Lourdes de la Cruz and their schoolmates Roselyn Rumay-Marialyn Mahilum; St. Michael-Laguna 1’ Nelcilyn Reyes and Yna Bacayon; St. Michael-Laguna 2’s Raissa Mae Punan and Maja Minorka Mercado and Dasmariñas tossers Sheila Mae Nanquil and Alyanna Gorospe.