ALL eyes will be on Jovelyn Gonzaga as she defends the crown with a different partner in the Belo-Philippine Superliga (PSL) Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup, which fires off tomorrow at the SM By the Bay in Pasay City.
Gonzaga will play alongside Maica Morada for Cignal HD A this time, hoping to flash the chemistry she and Nene Bautista used in giving RC Cola-Army the victory.
The Gonzaga-Morada tandem will be tested by University Athletic Association of the Philippines stars Cherry Rondina and Bernadeth Pons of Petron Sprint 4, Patty Orendain and Fiola Ceballos—Gonzaga’s beach volleyball teammate at Central Philippine University—of Generika Ayala A, and Jackilyn Estoquia and Danika Gendrauli, who dominated the event’s inaugural season in 2015, of Sta. Lucia.
“It’s going to be very difficult,” Gonzaga told the press launch on Tuesday at the Centerstage at the Mall of Asia. “All teams will be bringing in their best players and everybody prepared very well for this tournament. We have to work doubly hard for us to win the title.”
Also expected to put a tough fight are Cyd Demecillo and Fritz Gallenero of F2 Logistics A, Aby Maraño and Cha Cruz of F2 Logistics B, Ces Molina and Bang Pineda of Petron XCS, Rosalie Pepito and Kat Arado of Generika-Ayala B, Janine Marciano and Mylene Paat of Cignal HD B, Abie Nuval and Wensh Tiu of Cocolife, Marijo Medalla and Bianca Tripoli of Perpetual, and Kathleen Barrinuevo and Cherilyn Sindayen of Foton.
PSL President Tats Suzara—who graced the event with PSL Chairman Philip Ella Juico, Belo Marketing Manager Mario Garcia, TV5 Sports Director Patricia Hizon and Tournament Director Ginio Panganiban—said this year’s tournament is a wide-open race.
“This year’s tournament will be very unpredictable. It will all surely boils down to who wants it more,” Suzara said.
The men’s tournament is bannered by Cignal HD’s Erickson Ramos and Edmar Bonono, University of Perpetual Help A’s Rey Taneo and Relan Taneo and B’s Jayjay Solamillo and Joebert Almodiel, IEM A’s Arjay Salcedo and Romnick Samson and B’s Michael Zamora and Carlito Delito, TVM’s Arjay Onia and Geraint Bacon and Wayuk’s Emmanuel Gamat and Conrad Cabrera.
Generika-Ayala and SM By the Bay have yet to announce their team members in the men’s competition.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes