LINGAYEN - Pangasinense spikers Melanie Carrera and Cassandra Lleda weathered the strong breeze as they got past University of the East's Leuseth Dawis and Pia Sarmiento, 21-18, 22-20, to win the second leg of the 2013 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball tournament.
Wary of an afternoon breeze which ruined most of their high-flying shots in a court set up at the provincial capitol grounds, the former University of Luzon standouts played a cautious game en route to the win that sealed their place in the Battle of Champions in Boracay this coming October.
With the match tied at 20-all, the Pangasinense bets moved ahead after Dawis smashed a long volley out of bounds.
They finally clinched the championship when Lleda hit an ace, launching the ball towards Dawis’ direction. The pair celebrated as the ball hit the back of a crouching Dawis, before quickly bouncing off Sarmiento’s front and went out of range.
“Sobrang lakas ng hangin, kaya kailangan may control kami sa bola namin,” said the 24-year-old Carrera, who claimed her first crown with Lleda in this spikefest, held as part of the province’s annual celebration of the Pistay Dayat festival.
Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (second district) and provincial executive assistant Modesto Operana awarded the trophies to the winners in the event also supported by Mikasa Balls and the provincial government of Pangasinan through Gov. Amado Espino.
The duo, who represented the provincial engineering office, arranged a showdown with Dawis and Sarmiento after they eased out identical twins Nieza and Jeziela Viray, 21-12, 21-5, in the semifinals.
Dawis, a hotel and restaurant management senior, and Sarmiento prevailed in a closely fought semis encounter with Far Eastern University bets Maritoni Basas and Fil-Australian Samantha Dawson, 21-12, 17-21, 15-13.
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