Sisi Rondina eager for learning experience in BVR return

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons in a AVC Continental Cup match. AVC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons are set to compete in the first tournament of the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour after two years but the two are also looking ahead at another international competition.

The Filipino bets will represent the country in the Asian Seniors Beach Volleyball Championship on November 23 in Phuket, Thailand and the BVR on Tour in Sta. Ana, Cagayan serves as the perfect springboard for the continental tournament.

“We’re still focused, that hasn’t changed, and we need to really show how we play,” said Rondina, who is playing under Creamline, in Filipino. “This tournament is all about the learning experience. We’re happy that BVR is back.”

The first leg of the BVR Sta. Ana, which consists of women and men’s divisions, is on Friday and the second will be on October 28 until 31 at the same venue. The event is played in a bubble setting.

“We’re familiar with playing without an audience because we’ve played in a bubble before.”

Rondina and Pons, who won bronze in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, ruled the previous BVR on Tour in Lianga, Surigao del Sur and are once again tabbed as the title favorites.

“We appreciate the expectations, but we don’t really dwell on that much, because we’re also fans of the other volleyball players,” said Rondina. “We appreciate the fans’ expectations because they really inspire us and give us good luck.”

Other participants in the women’s division are Creamline 2’s Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriguez, PLDT’s Ella and Nieza Viray, TM’s Mer Jauculan and Hannah Cabansay, Biogenic Alcohol’s Roma Joy Doromal and Heather Guino-o, Toyota-Tuguegarao’s Nicole Tiamzon and Jho Maraguinot, Eastern Perlas Spikers’ Michelle Morente and Jules Samonte, Black Mamba Army 1’s Nene Bautista and Jeannie Delos Reyes, Black Mamba Army 2’s Jem Gutierrez and Audrey Paran, Good Health CDO’s Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor, Sta. Lucia 1’s Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño, Sta. Lucia 2’s Bang Pineda and Glaudine Troncoso and Delimondo’s MJ Ebro and Bianca Lizares.

Men’s action will see Creamline 1’s Jaron Requinton and Ranran Abdilla, Creamline 2’s Jude Garcia and Krung Arbasto, Creamline 3’s Pemie Bagalay and Jeffer Guerrero, PLDT’s Rancel Varga and Efraem Dimaculangan, Tuguegarao’s AJ Pareja and James Pecaña, EVI Construction’s KR Guzman and Jeremiah Barrica, Army-FSD Makati 1’s Randy Fallorina and Jason Uy, Army-FSD Makati 2’s Joel Villonson and Joshua Barrica, DeliRush 1’s  Evan Laraya and Julius Sioson, DeliRush 2’s Joven Camaganakan and Rhenze Hu and Negros Occidental Beach Volleyball Club’s Deanne Neil de Pedro and Eljhay Ronquillo competing for the crown.

All members of the BVR delegation have tested negative in their RT-PCR tests three days before entering the Sta. Ana bubble.