PETRON’S Pat Avanceña Lota with the aspirants—Danielle Michiko Castañeda, Leah Acepcion, Hannah Suarez, Angela Benting, Ivory Joy Rivera, Roxanne Naral, Dyrene Rose Benecio, Precious Grace Abano, April Almaden, Regina Tungol, Jeusel Wensh Tiu, Christine Levanza and Donna Mae Factor. --ROY DOMINGO

DANIELLE Michiko Castañeda and Leah Acepcion return to Puerto Princesa City to take part in the 2008 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball Battle of Champions on Friday at the city’s Baywalk sand courts.

Wiser and more prepared this time around, the pair from the University of the Philippines will seek the grand finals crown won last year by veterans Sheryl Laborte and Jenny Torres.

“We are ready. We have been practicing for the for the past few months,” said Castañeda when she and Acepcion appeared with seven other pairs during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s United Nations Avenue Tuesday.

But Castañeda and Acepcion, who are familiar with the playing environment in Puerto Princesa City where they won the second leg of the series early this year over schoolmates Carmela Lopez and Rebecca Gail Montero, are expected to face stiff opposition. 

The five-foot-10 Castañeda, a graduating Special Education student, and Acepcion, have to contend with Adamson University’s Hannah Suarez and Angela Benting in yet another night-game setting.

Suarez and Benting, who eased out Laborte and Nerissa Bautista during the third-leg finals, will be around to make things difficult not only for Castañeda and Acepcion, but also for seven other competing pairs from Metro Manila and two others from Palawan.

First-leg winners Ginaflor Alanguilan and Abigail Escandor of University of the East begged off because the date of the competitions coincides with their school’s final examinations.

Organizer Tisha Abundo said the staging of the tournament’s final leg this year will coincide with Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn’s 62nd birthday on October 12.

Petron representative Pat Avanceña Lota said the competitions serve as the oil company’s way of supporting grassroots sports.

“We hope that this will become bigger in the coming years,” said Lota, who also appeared in the sports forum sponsored by Shakey’s, Accel, Brickroad gym and Aspen spa and MedCentral Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center.

Losing second-stage finalist Lopez will also be back this time around, but will have a new partner in Ivory Joy Rivera. Also joining the Battle of the Champs are circuit veterans Philippine School of Business Administration’s Roxanne Naral and Dyrene Rose Benecio.

Given wildcard slots are newcomers Precious Grace Abano and April Almaden of de La Salle-Dasmarinas, and so with their schoolmates Regina Tungol and Jeusel Wensh Tiu, together with Christine Levanza and Donna Mae Factor of the Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Two other pairs from Palawan will be named before the start of competitions.

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