Rondina, Pons turn back Japanese foe to kick start FIVB Boracay Open bid

The Philippines’ Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made quick work of Japan’s Shinako Tanaka and Miyuki Matsumura, 21-14, 21-8, to barge into the Round of 12 Thursday in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open presented by Globe in Boracay.

MANILA, Philippines–Filipino pair of Cherry Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made quick work of Japan’s Shinako Tanaka and Miyuki Matsumura, 21-14, 21-8, to barge into the Round of 12 of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open Thursday in Boracay.

Despite little training for the tournament, Rondina quickly adjusted to the sand court as she and Pons scored their first win in the main draw just days after the UAAP MVP played her final game in the UAAP women’s volleyball finals.

“I just had two days training, but I already set my mind that I was going back to outdoor,” Rondina, a four-time UAAP beach volleyball champion for University of Santo Tmas, said.

“Maybe it’s just muscle memory. But I also watched our previous games together (Pons) so I could study our movements.

Rondina faced the 43-year old Tanaka for the second straight Beach World Tour.

The last time they met in the Manila Open, Rondina and formet partner Dzi Gervacio were eliminated by Tanaka and Fujii Sakurako for a spot in the semifinals.

“I really wanted to win last year,” said Rondina.” We’re blessed to win this time. That’s Japan. They’re always a tough opponent.”

After getting their groove on the sand court, Rondina and Pons managed to pounce on the Japanese pair’s weakness by going to their strength.

“They don’t get blocked a lot so we needed to attack. It was hard because the sand is deep, but we were able to adjust. We really pushed out breath because we struggled to move.”

Up next for Rondina and Pons is another Japanese pair, Satono Ishitsubo and Asami Shiba, at 7:50 a.m. Saturday. A victory will send them to quarterfinals.

The Philippines’ Bea Tan and Dij Rodriguez narrowly lost to Singapore’s Eliza Chong and Lau Ee Shan, 21-17, 13-21, 14-16, while the other Filipina pair, Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño, suffered a 18-21, 14-21 defeat to Australia’s Brittany Kendall and Stefanie Weiler.

In men’s action, James Buytrago and Krung Arbasto bowed to Singapore’s Fan Shen and Kingsley Tay, 12-21, 21-18, 5-15, Jessie Lopez and Ranran Abdilla fell to Norway’s Ruben Lovli and Kjetil Tellnes, 21-19, 19-21, 8-15, while Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria lost a 15-21, 14-21 decision to Japan’s Jumpei Ikeda and Katsuhiro Shiratori.

The women’s pairs of Tan and Rodriguez, and Estoquia and DM Demontaño need to hurdle their matches against Tan Hsi Yan and Tasha Mae of Malaysia, and Ekaterina Filina and Ekaterina Zazhigina of Russia, respectively, starting at 8:40 a.m. Saturday to remain in the competition.