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CLARK
FIELD, Pampanga—A pair of former varsity standouts
joined their collegiate counterparts in hacking out
opening-day victories Thursday at the start of the first
leg of the 2007 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball
Tournament at the Clearwater Country Club.
Software
engineer Kris Gepuela and advertising executive Kristin
Ho relied on their vast experience as they turned back
their Asian College of Science and Technology rivals,
Mary Jane Portia and Marianne Calleja, 21-13.
“This is
the first time we teamed up. I guess it was just our
instincts that carried us in the game,” said Gepuela,
the youngest daughter of retired volleyball chief Louie
Gepuela.
Kris
used to see action for
University of
Santo Tomas,
while Ho played for University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos
in college.
They now
share the lead in Group B with Ateneo hotshots Misha
Quimpo and Bea Pascual, who stopped Gel Gepuela and
Camille Alcantara, 21-6.
Backed
by Petron, Clearwater Country Club, Speedo, Armada
Sports 70, Asian College of Science and Technology,
Arellano University, Gatorade and Mikasa (official
ball), the event offers P10,000 plus trophy to the
winning pair, while runners-up get P5,000, plus trophy.
The top
two placers automatically earn berths to the grand
finals—a Battle of Champions-type of competition at the
end of the year.
Olivarez
College
bets Roseanne Barroga and Rowena Felices turned back
Psychology students Yoni Wasan and Jan Venegas, 21-7, in
the Group A hostilities to draw first blood with
Arellano University standouts Cherry Ferrer and Katrina
Rimpillo.
Ferrer
and Rimpillo used their height advantage in stopping
Davaoena Rubie Ann Tangulo and Stephanie Palma, 21-11.
The
left-handed Ho gave her team a 4-0 lead with a pair of
aces in the start of the contest.
After
Calleja and Portia tied the match at 7-all, Ho unleashed
three sharp smashes and belted out a winner and an ace
to touch off a decisive 6-0 surge.
Gepuela
and Ho were never in trouble from then on and after
allowing their rivals another point, they coasted to a
16-8 lead.
Clearwater
general manager Mark Lord was around to the grace the
short and simple opening ceremonies. |
