MANILA – The Philippine Women’s National Beach Volleyball team’s medal hopes are in peril after losing to Thailand in the 30th Southeast Asian Games women’s beach volleyball yesterday in Subic, Zambales.
Negrense Bernadeth Pons and Cherry Rondina tried their best to keep in step with Thai’s Varapatsorn Radarong and Khanittha Hongpak but still suffered a 26-24, 25-15 defeat.
Another Philippine pair in Angelique Gervacio and Dij Rodriguez were also unsuccessful. They bowed to the pair of Tanarattha Udomchavee and Rumpaipruet Numwong, 21-16, 21-14.
For dropping to 2-2 record, the Philippine pairs are out of contention for gold and silver medal and will need a sweep against Singapore on Friday to salvage at least a bronze medal finish.
“Alam naming lalaban at lalaban ‘yang Singapore,” said four-time champion and MVP in UAAP beach volleyball Rondina. “Pero siyempre, ‘di tayo papatalo dyan. Medalya na pag-uusapan dyan.”
ThePhilippine beach volleyball team is hoping to repeat its feat in the 2005 SEA Games, also hosted by the Philippines, when Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua bagged bronze./PN
