Rondina, Pons: World Tour a learning experience

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons aren’t sulking over a fifth-place finish in the recent FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open presented by Globe.

Rondina said they are “grateful and blessed” to have faced premium foes, something which allowed them to learn more about the game.

“Given a chance, we will prepare more for tournaments like this,” the UST star and UAAP indoor volleyball MVP said in Filipino.

Reunited with Pons, Rondina powered the Philippines to two victories against Japan’s Shinako Tanaka and Miyuki Matsumura, 21-14, 21-8, in pool play and pulled off a dominant 21-18, 21-6 win over Ekaterina Filina and Ekaterina Zazhigina of Russia in the Round of 12.

They lost to Japan’s Sakurako Fujii and Minori Kumada, 21-17, 21-19, in the quarterfinals. “Maybe in the next tournament, we can prepare better and improve our finish,” Pons said in Filipino.