MANILA – Negrense Bernadeth Pons and Cherry Rondina of Petron XCS again toppd the Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball in Sands By the Bay at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
Pons and Rondina showed dominance with a lopsided 21-11, 21-8 victory Sunday night over the experienced Ilonggas Dhannylaine Demontano and Jackie Estoquia of Sta. Lucia A in the finals.
The Pons-Rondina pair imposed its presence in the opening set with a 15-6 start and never looked back.
Demontano and Estoquia hanged around early in the second set but Pons and Rondina unloaded a huge run to pull away to a 19-10 edge.
“Sobrang init tapos ’di pa kami nagti-training dito, patagalan na lang iyong ginawa namin,” said Rondina. “Na-survive namin and we’re blessed na napagtyagaan naming dalawa. Siyempre thank you kasi nandoon pa rin iyong connection namin sa isa’t-isa.”
Pons added: “Nahirapan naman talaga kami kasi competitive naman talaga iyong mga kalaban, mabibilis. Ang ginawa lang talaga namin ginusto naming manalo. Bawat makakalaban namin ginusto naming talunin at ito iyong naging result.”
Ilongga Fiola Ceballos and Bacolodnon Patty Jane Orendain of Generika-Ayala A salvaged a third place finish after beating Ilongga Fritz Gallenero and Michelle Morente of F2 Logistics 21-16, 21-14.
“No pressure lang. Last game na namin ni Patty so we gave our all,” said Ceballos, a former beach volleyball player for Central Philippine University. “OK lang naman kasi naka-bronze kami.”
Meanwhile Foton duo Lemuel Arbasto and Kris Roy Guzman stunned erstwhile undefeated Sands by the Bay pair Bryan Bagunas and James Natividad 21-15, 21-15 to bag the men’s division title./PN
