Alas Pilipinas Women crowned beach volleyball queens

PATTAYA—Alas Pilipinas Women joined Team Philippines' history-makers in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with their stunning dethroning of long-reigning beach volleyball queens Thailand in their own kingdom.

Faced with the gargantuan challenge in their very first finals stint against the seemingly unbeatable eight-time champs, Alas 1’s Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons and Alas 2’s Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez responded with a fiery performance that will forever be etched in Philippine beach volley history.

Not only did they topple the Thais in their own turf, they did so emphatically, sweeping the title match up, 2-0.

Rondina and Pons outdueled Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee and Taravadee Naraphornrapat, 21-17, 21-15, to put Alas in position to achieve the once unthinkable and bring the mighty Thais to their knees.

To cheers of “Let’s Go, Philippines,” from the Philippine delegation and small group of supporters in the sandcourt of Jomtien Beach, Villapando and Rodriguez went for the kill and finished off Tanarattha Udomchavee and Rumpaipruet Numvong in three, 21-13, 17-21,15-6.

“Grabe, sobrang saya, lalong-lalo na sa amin ni Pons na pang-lima na namin ito and nakapag-gold din kami sa international,” said Rondina.

Prior to this, the Pinay sandbelles had a best finish of bronze, achieved twice in 2019 at home and 2021 in Vietnam.

“May mga teammates, may mga coaches kami, management na alam kong nagtitiwala sa amin and ang ginawa lang namin, is magtrabaho. Sabi ko nga magiging consistent lang kami, 'yyng podium andyan lang. I think consistency lang din ipinakita namin kaya kami nakapag-gold ngayon,” she added.

Alas beach volleyball coach, Brazilian Joao Luciano Kioday, called Ramon “Tats” Suzara, thanking the former federation president for his effort in bringing the discipline to a higher level.

“Let’s celebrate, the gold is going back to Philippines!” Kioday said. “Ramon, thank you so much, you’re responsible for having made this success … I just want to share with you [this gold], you’re part of this—your hard work for beach volleyball.”

Reunited after linking up with different partners in the 2023 edition and coming home medal-less, Rondina and Pons made it their mission to bounce back here.

“Uun ang hugot namin, wala kaming medal nung last SEA Games, sobrang disappointed kami. Sabi namin babawi kami,” said Pons. (MCO)