DEFENDING champion Danika Gendrauli is back with a new team and a new partner in the coming Philippine Super Liga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup 2015, which gets going this Saturday at The Sands of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Former La Salle spiker Aby Marano has started practicing with Gendrauli under the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers banner, one of 23 teams seeing action.
“Sabi niya (Marano) sa akin na tulungan ko siya mag-adjust. Kasi first time niya,” said Gendrauli, who won the crown last year with Norie Jane Diaz.
This time around, Diaz will join forces with Pau Soriano playing for Standard Insurance-Navy A.
Under the Gilligan’s banner last year, Gendrauli and Diaz got past an aggressive Foton Tornadoes’ side of Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain, 19-21, 21-14, 15-11, for the women’s crown.
Aside from Marano, Cebuano champion Jovelyn Gonzaga will be around with Nene Bautista for RC Cola-Army A.
Fourteen teams are in the women’s division, while nine are taking part in the men’s side.
Hostilities during the eliminations will be on Saturdays on May 7 and 14. Then, it shifts to a Sunday schedule during the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals on May 22 and 29.
Entered in the men’s side are defending champion SM By the Bay, Far Eastern University-A, Wayuka, Navy-A, University of the East-Manila, in Group A. FEU-B, Cignal Team Awesome and Navy B are in Group B.
The 24-year-old Gendrauli and Marano are in for a tough assignment in Group B, one of four brackets in the women’s division.
They will be challenged by Petron Sprint 4T’s Maica Morada and Frances Molina, Standard Insurance-Navy B’s Florence Madulid and Pau Genido.
Diaz and Soriano expect to have a tough time seeking a quarterfinals seat in Group A.
They are in the company of Gonzaga and Bautista, and the University of the East duo of Jasmine Alcayde and Angelica Dacaymat.
“This is about the idea of having a continuing development in beach volleyball,” said PSL president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
Suzara said it is the goal of the PSL to bring the sport of beach volleyball to a higher level.
