The Philippines got on the board in the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Challenge thanks to the heroics of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons.
Beach volleyball icons Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made history on Friday as they secured their first win at the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Challenge, taking a resounding win over Slovenia, 21-19, 21-9, in the women’s main draw Pool G at the Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
With all Alas pairs facing must-win situations, Rondina and Pons rose to the occasion to tally their first win as a tandem in the Challenge level.
The win proved that Rondina and Pons still have Slovenia’s number, having beaten the same pair of Ziva Javornik and Tadja Lovsin. They beat the World No. 78 pair in Budapest only last month in a Futures tournament.
Rondina expressed confidence that the big win will do wonders for herself and Pons, especially since it came after making their first appearance in the Challenge level.
“Kauna-unahang panalo namin 'to sa Challenge. Malaking boost ito sa aming confidence. Masaya at nanalo rin," she said.
The duo’s victory became the lone bright spot for the hosts as the two other teams seeing action today crashed out of the main draw.
Sonny Villapando and Dji Rodriguez fell at the hands of Japan’s Sakura Ito and Maya Sawame while Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor were drubbed by Americans Teegan Van Gunst and Piper Ferch.
Rondina and Pons march on to the Round of 24 and face Swiss duo Menia Bentele and Annique Niederhauser later on Friday.
They are the only tandem moving on in the tournament after men’s players James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla also exited the tournament early after a loss against Team USA’s Tim Brewster and Ryan Lerna.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.