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THE
picturesque city of
Puerto Princesa
City in Palawan serves as the backdrop for the second
leg of the Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament
this weekend.
Now on
its fifth year, the leg-hopping tournament will be held
in the country’s first-class city for the first time
following the agreement forged between organizer Tisha
Abundo and the city government of Puerto Princesa, under
Mayor Edward Hagedorn.
The
matches will be held on April 25 and 26, which, Abundo
said, serves as a “perfect attraction” to the Palarong
Pambansa, which is also currently being hosted by the
province.
Abundo
accompanied the players from 10 different teams in
Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at
the Shakey’s United Nations Avenue, where they were
joined by Kae de Leon of Petron and Clink Hagedorn, who
represented his father.
“It’s
our first time there in
Palawan, so we expect it to be a success. Marami nang mga tao ang naghihintay
doon, lalo na’t andun ang Palarong Pambansa ngayon
sa Puerto Princesa,” said Abundo in the forum
sponsored by Shakey’s, the Philippine Amusement and
Gaming Corp., Accel, Brickroad Gym and Aspen Spa.
Hagedorn
took the occasion to announce that the capital city of
Palawan intends to host the event on an annual basis,
while de Leon also revealed Petron has just renewed its
contract as major sponsor of the four-leg tournament.
“I just
got informed by my father today na gagawing
yearly event na ito sa Palawan,” said Hagedorn.
“I’m
proud to announce today that we’ve just renewed our
contract as partner of the Petron Ladies Beach
Volleyball tournament. It’s now on its fifth year and
still growing, as we try to sustain our sponsorship of
it,” de Leon added.
First-leg
winner University
of the East won’t be around as it is already seeded to
the Battle of Champions finale at the end of the year,
leaving the fight for the P10,000 prize purse and the
leg title a wide-open race among the eight Manila-based
teams and the two guest squads from Palawan.
The
battle-tested Acsat pair of Raisalyn Noleal and Sheena
Rose Teves leads the field competing in the second leg
of the meet sponsored by Petron, Speedo, Mikasa and the
City of Puerto Princesa. The others are Danielle Michiko Castañeda and Leah Acepcion
of University of the Philippines; Carmela Lopez and
Rebecca Gail Montero also of UP; San Sebastian’s Russel
Jalbuna and Princess Elaine Cruz; the teams from Feati
composed of Maricel Nano, Janine Erika Medina, Jennifer
Peralta and Jenny Escalora; and Jessy Dumagat, Erika del
Valle, Dyrene Rose Benecio and Roxanne Noral, all from
PSBA.
Except
for a few ones, almost all the girls will be trooping to
Palawan for the first time, a trip that is going to be a
rest and recreation for them at the same time.
“We’re
leaving on Thursday and won’t be back until the 29th
(Tuesday), so the girls will really enjoy their stay
there. It’s an all expense paid trip that’s why we’re
really very grateful to Mayor Hagedorn, his son Clinck
and the city government of Palawan for giving us the
privilege to play in Puerto Princesa,” Abundo added. |
