Rondina, Pons crush Indonesian pair in SEAG beach volley

CHONBURI, Thailand – Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons began Alas Pilipinas’ redemption bid in Southeast Asian Games women’s beach volleyball in style as they earned a breakthrough 2-1 win over Indonesia along the Jomtien Beach here on Friday, December 12.

The prolific tandem hacked out a come-from-behind 15-21, 21-16, 18-16 victory over Indonesia’s Desi Ratnasari and Nur Sari in the deciding match for a rousing start in the round-robin preliminary round that features six nations.

“Sobrang grateful na nakakuha po kami ngayon ng unang panalo, sobrang hirap din talaga kalaro yung Indonesia,” said Rondina.

“Knowing Indonesia, sobrang palaban ‘yan sila and never pa ‘yan namin natalo sa apat na taon na naglalaro ng SEA Games. So ito ‘yung pinakaunang panalo namin against Indonesia.”

As a duo, Rondina and Pons keyed the Philippines to bronze finishes in the 2019 Philippines and 2021 Vietnam editions, but they fell short of a third straight medal as they played with different partners in 2023 in Cambodia.

Back together as a pair, Rondina and Pons weaved the same magic of the past.

They won the opening match of the best-of-three affair with a 21-18, 18-21, 15-10 win over Ratnasari and Sari, although Indonesia dragged the Philippines to a decider after Bernadetta Shella Herdanti and Josephine Selvina nailed a 12-21, 21-19, 15-13 victory over Dij Rodriguez and Sunnie Villapando.

Bucking a first-set setback, Rondina and Pons beat Ratnasari and Sari again following a nervy finish that saw the two Filipinos make the right plays when it mattered most.

Indonesia, which won three consecutive silver medals in the event, surprisingly kept pace even as Ratnasari suffered an apparent left foot injury early in the third set, even moving within match point at 15-14.

But Rondina regained the upper hand for the Philippines at 17-16 and then Indonesia failed to return a Pons attack.

“Sobrang pinag-pray ko talaga ‘yung comeback namin kasi ‘yun nga, ‘yung hugot talaga namin is ‘yung last SEA Games namin na wala kaming medal. Sobrang disappointed kami sa naging result so ito talaga ‘yung time na pinag-pray namin na gusto namin bumalik,” said a tearful Pons.

Up next for the Philippines is Singapore on Saturday, December 13, at the same venue. (MCO-EM)