Rondina-Pons tandem struggle to stay alive in FIVB Boracay Open

“Grateful again for another experience! Thankful to this girl! On to the next dai.” (Photo: @cherryann.rondina/Instagram)

Philippine representatives Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons are officially out of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open after losing to Sakurako Fujii and Minori Kumada from Japan last Sunday, May 26 at the White House Beach on the newly reopened island.

The duo debuted as international partners with two wins – over Russia’s Ekaterina Filina and Ekaterina Zazhigina, which booked their ticket to the quarterfinals.

The set scores finished 17-21 and 19-21 with Rondina explaining that she is “still grateful that we faced [Fujii and Kumada],” stating in Filipino, “We gained experience.” Pons added, “We weren’t too far. We didn’t lose being beaten up. We saw that we could do it. We just need longer preparation and exposure in international tournaments.”

This is Rondina’s second time representing the country in the tournament, also finishing fifth place overall with then-partner Dzi Gervacio last year. History repeated itself, as the two were eliminated by Fujii and her partner Shinako Tanaka as well in 2018. When responding to her familiarized opponent, Fujii said that “Rondina was tough,” telling the press, “She improved her defense. I remember last year, she was good in digging.

She also improved in receiving.” She also laughed, “Everybody was cheering for the Philippines. But we just focused in our game.”

The four-time University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) beach volleyball Most Valuable Player (MVP), despite being eliminated by Team Japan, shared that to hear those words from Fujii is “an honor.” She explained to the press, “Of course, a Japanese said it. Beach volleyball is different in Japan. It’s an honor that the Japanese appreciates how we move.”

The four-day FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open was organized by Globe Saturday and the Beach Volleyball Republic.  Bea Tan and Floremel Rodriguez, Jackielyn Estoquia and DM Demontano, Patty Orendain and Fiola Ceballos, and the pair of Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor also represented the Philippines during the competition.