DASMARINAS, Cavite – Ateneo standout Asia Urquico finally ended a long search when she and new partner Jessica Morado clinched the first-leg honor in the 2010 Petron Ladies’ Beach Volleyball Tournament here.

The 5-foot-7 Urquico and Morado bucked a lethargic second set to trounce Philippine Christian University-Dasmarinas hotshots Ana Alicia Adolfo and Alyanna Marie Gorospe, 21-10, 19-21, 15-7, at the sandcourts of the De La Salle-Health Sciences Institute.

It was memorable win for Urquico, a biology junior who started joining the spikefest three years ago, when she placed third on her first outing.

“This win is memorable. After several tries, now I know what it feels to be champion in this circuit,” said Urquico, who just recovered from a hamstring injury she sustained during the Battle of Champions last year and had been training with the varsity athletics team with her partner ever since.

Urquico and Morado needed to get past schoolmates Sharah So and Khryzette Onishi in the semifinals, 21-15, triumph before they were able to arrange a championship clash with Adolfo and Gorospe in this volleyball extravaganza backed by Petron, with support from Mikasa and Speedp.