Banas powers Petron winners

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Collegiate standout Ana Nicole Banas and Japanese-Filipina Nao Sagawa went strong with their serves and came away with a 21-11 subduing of their Dagupan-based foes Marife Diaz and Mary Joy Marcellones on a cloudy and rainy Thursday afternoon.

Their victory at the start of the second leg of the 2014 Petron Ladies Beach Volleyball tournament allowed them to join four others in the early lead of this spikefest, played before a big Labor Day crowd at the beach front of the provincial capitol grounds.

Defending second-leg winner Melanie Carrera and new partner Juvelyn Castillo made their presence felt along with La Salle-Dasmariñas bets Bea Canillas and Jennifer Zarate, La Salle-Dasmarinas alumni spikers Aileen Abuel and Regina Tungol, and University of the East alumni belles Abigail Escandor and Gina Alanguilan.

“We came out strong with our service and attacks,” said Banas.

La Salle-Dasma’s Canillas and Zarate weathered a late comeback to put away PMMS-2’s Clarisse Cabrera and Jaynilyn Banares, 21-19.