PH assured of podium finish in world beach volleyball tourney

Eslapor and Rodriguez also played brilliantly to conquer their Japanese foes, Ren Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto, 21-16, 21-18. (File photo: Braedon McLeod/Unsplash)

MANILA – Host Philippines was assured of a podium finish in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures after Cherry Ann “Sisi” Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga; Genesa Jane Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez won their respective quarterfinal matches on Saturday.

Rondina and Gonzaga outplayed Japanese tandem Ericka Habaguchi and Saki Maruyama, 18-21, 21-12, 15-7, to the delight of the crowd who watched at the sidelines of the Subic Bay Sand Court in Zambales.

Eslapor and Rodriguez also played brilliantly to conquer their Japanese foes, Ren Matsumoto and Non Matsumoto, 21-16, 21-18.

Rondina and Gonzaga will be up against the Israeli pair of Yahli Ashush and Anita Dave while Eslapor and Rodriguez will battle another Japanese team in Miyu Sakamoto and Mayu Sawame in the Final Four on Sunday.

Ashush and Dave prevailed over Czech Republic’s Valerie Dvronikova and Anna Pospisilova, 21-12, 18-21, 7-5, while Sakamoto and Sawame rallied past Thailand’s Mungkhon Salinda and Bunongkhun Jidapa, 27-25, 14-21, 15-13, in the quarterfinal round.

“Thank you Sisi,” said Gonzaga, who hugged Rondina after the match.

“I’m really motivated and inspired by Sisi [Rondina] in the second set after struggling in the first set. She gave me confidence and she trusted me so I stepped up and finally made some key plays,” said Gonzaga, who was tapped two weeks ago to replace the injured Bernadeth Pons.

Pons, who has yet to recover from a shoulder injury, and Rondina won back-to-back bronze medals at the SEA Games.

Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) which organized the tournament, commended the two pairs.

“I salute the girls for playing tough and they didn’t disappoint the crowd. This is a great achievement so far, we are very, very happy,” he remarked.