THE year’s best of the best face off next week in the Battle of Champions, the final leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies beach-volleyball tournament at the Baywalk in Puerto Princesa City.
Champions and runners-up in the previous three legs compete against each other in the meet set on October 11 and 12.
Top bets from Letran and De La Salle University-Dasmariñas are expected to crowd each other for the title and the bragging rights as this year’s “Queen of the Beach.”
Letran is represented by Marinnele Carolino and new partner Sarah Jane Espelita. Carolino with Gene Andaya as partner, took runner-up honors behind back-to-back champions Jennifer Manzano and Satchel Senupe in last year’s Battle of Champions.
Manzano and Senupe are not around to defend their title, but Iari Yongco and Giselle Bembo will be there and try to keep the championship for the school.
Yongco and Bembo lost to schoolmates Manzano and Senupe in the finals of the third leg in July.
“Ito na ’yung best of the best from among the participants, from the first, second and third leg,” said tournament organizer Tisha Abundo in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at Shakey’s United Nations Avenue.
“There will be bigger prizes of course, and the right to claim the ‘Queen of the Beach’ honor,” Abundo, a former sports commissioner, added in the session presented by Smart, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Outlast Battery and Shakey’s.
Also appearing in the forum were DLSU-Dasmarinas sports director Gerry Sergio and players Jessamine Fernandez and partner Iumi Yongco (DLSU-Dasma), Ma. Leuseht Dawis and Mary Grace Masangkay (UE), Frances Cais and Jessica Paron (UE) and Iari Yongco (DLSU-Dasma).
Completing the field in the meet presented by Speedo, Mikasa Balls and the city of Puerto Princesa are the two teams from UP composed of Pauline Genido and Liezchel Tiu, and Joyce Palad and Amanda Isada.
The two-day finals will also be held as part of the celebrations of the 65th birthday of city Mayor Edward Hagedorn.
Organizers also aim the promote the nomination of the PuertoPrincesa Underground River as part of the new seven wonders of nature.
Abundo added that the tournament will visit new venues next season including Bagasbas Beach in Camarines Norte for the first leg in January.
In Photo: The participants in the final leg of the 2011 Petron Ladies beach-volleyball tournament strike a pose in Tuesday’s forum. (Roy Domingo)
