By Adrian Stewart Co

Philippine Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga and Nerissa Bautista stamped their class in the 2nd Linggo ng Sindangan Open Women Invitational Beach Volleyball Championship held recently in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.

The Guimaras-native Gonzaga and Iloilo City’s Bautista banked on their wide experience to defeat BabyLove Barbon and Merry Rose Jauculan of LGU Naawan in the gold medal match.

Gonzaga and Bautista’s recent victory came after the tandem captured a championship during the Philippine Superliga beach volleyball competition five years ago.

This was also a first in a long while for the former Queen of the Sands Gonzaga, who captured numerous beach volleyball championships with Fiola Ceballos as members of Central Philippine University.

Gonzaga was also supposed to try out for a spot in the national women’s beach volleyball team early this year but have to beg off due to her commitment as a member of Philippine Army.

Bautista, for her part, also had her success in the beach volleyball even during her time in her hometown and in some beach volleyball leagues in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Judith Abil and Gerzel Petallo of Iligan Medical Center College finished at third place, while Kresca Coscod and Sheila Balos of LGU Mahayag ended up at fourth spot./ASC, WDJ