By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Filipino pair Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons played steadier in the third set to beat compatriots Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara, 21-17, 18-21, 15-12, Friday in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Futures Nuvali in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
Rondina and long-time partner Pons fought hard to overcome the tough UST duo under the scorching heat to register their first win in Pool A.
“We go all out. We feel no pressure and we expect nothing, especially since we had very little time to prepare. We give our all to the best of our abilities, this is all for the country,” Pons said.
Rondina and Pons won bronze medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2019 (Philippines) and 2022 (Vietnam).
“We have committed to train in beach volleyball because we want redemption in the SEA Games. We train until December,” Pons added.
Meanwhile, Filipinos Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa bowed to Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Gruzsinskaite, 17-21, 17-21, in Pool B of the main draw.
Cordero and Epa prevailed over Australians Charlotte Graham and Emma Hannagan, 21-11, 21-8, and Japan’s Keiko Urata and Minami Asano, 17-21, 21-11, 15-12, in the qualifying round of the event organized by Philippine National Volleyball Federation headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who also serves as Asian Volleyball Confederation president.
In the men’s main draw, 2024 Beach Pro Tour silver medalist James Buytrago and Rancel Varga lost to Israel’s Tamir Hershko and River Day, 21-23, 12-21, in Pool D.
Lerry John Francisco and Edwin Tolentino also fell to Czechia’s Tomas Semerad and Adam Miroslav Stocek, 13-21, 9-21, in Pool C. (PNA)
