Petron XCS, RC resume Liga beach volley bids

BANG Pineda and Aiza Pontillas of Petron XCS cruised to victory in almost the same manner that Jovelyn Gonzaga and Nene Bautista of RC Cola-Army A pummeled their rivals at the start of their title bids last week.

They will try to keep their fiery form when the 2016 Philippine Superliga Challenge Cup beach volleyball tournament resumes today at the Sands at SM By the Bay at Mall of Asia.

This time, Pineda and Pontillas battle the formidable pair of Cherry Rondina and Patty Orendain of Foton in a much-anticipated 3 p.m. clash that could go either way.

Gonzaga, who has captured every major women’s beach volley title in the country since 2009, and Bautista will be challenged by April Ross Hingpit and Jonafer San Pedro of Meralco in the 6 p.m. mainer of the event backed by Accel, Mikasa, Senoh and Island Rose.

“There are a lot of good teams out there,” said Gonzaga, whose partnership with Bautista produced a 19-21, 21-16, 15-13 win over FEU Petron. “We have to double our efforts if we want to win the title.”

Prior to the RC Cola-Meralco face-off, UE Manila takes on Standard Insurance-Navy A followed by the clash between Standard Insurance B and F2 Logistics of defending champion Danika Gendrauli and Aby Maraño.

Pineda and Pontillas walked over Mapua and then breezed through Accel Quantum Plus, 21-7, 21-9, to lead the parade of winners during the inaugurals last week.

FEU-Petron’s Kyla Atienza and Bernadeth Pons wrap things up at 7 p.m. against Mary Grace Berte and Vhima Condada of Cignal.

In men’s play, twins Daniel and Tim Young of SM By the Bay face siblings Rey and Relan Taneo of Cignal at 6:45 p.m. Philippine Navy A and FEU B then collide at 8:30 p.m.