October 18, 2025

Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball teams zero in on SEA Games 2025 gold medal push

Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball teams zero in on SEA Games 2025 gold medal push
Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons lead the charge as Alas Pilipinas intensifies its beach volleyball buildup for the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok. | Photo: PNVF

With less than two months to go before the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, the Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball teams are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to finally break into the gold-medal conversation.

Led by the dynamic duo of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, Alas Women have shifted their full focus to the SEA Games set for December 12 to 19, drawing confidence from their recent campaign at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge.

“We’re all happy that we were able to participate in the Challenge. Although it was a short campaign for us, we learned a lot from every match that we can apply in the SEA Games,” said Pons.

The Creamline star, alongside Rondina, made history as the first-ever Filipino pair—men’s or women’s—to win a match in the Challenge and advance to the Round of 24.

“We must continue training hard, we must be consistent in our timing, attacks, receives, and blocking,” she added. “Good thing we were able to play against competitive teams in the Challenge.”

Full focus on Bangkok

The Philippine squads are ramping up preparations with intensive training camps at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Santa Rosa, Laguna, where all six candidate pairs have been called up to train and compete for the two SEA Games roster spots per gender.

For the women’s side, aside from Rondina and Pons, other hopefuls include Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario, and Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor.

The men’s pool is headlined by James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, who won bronze at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, along with the duos of Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Vergara, and Edwin Tolentino and Larry John Francisco.

“We’re ready anytime if chosen for the SEA Games,” said Gaviola. “We’ll determine what adjustments to make.”

Breaking the dominance

The Philippines faces an uphill climb against perennial powerhouses Thailand and Indonesia, which have dominated the SEA Games beach volleyball scene with eight gold medals each in the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively.

Since the sport’s inclusion as a medal event in 2003, the Philippines has collected six bronze medals—three apiece in the men’s and women’s divisions. 

But with experience, depth, and hunger on their side, Alas Pilipinas hope this December will mark a turning point.

“Our mindset is clear: we want to go beyond bronze,” said head coach Joao ‘Kioday’ Luciano Simao Barbosa.

“The SEA Games is the target, and everything we’re doing now is to make sure we’re ready when that first serve goes up in Bangkok.”

(With reports by Kiko Demigillo/One Sports)

[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]

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