Rondina, Gervacio oust Canada to barge into FIVB Manila Open quarterfinals

The Philippine duo of Cherry Rondina and Dzi Gervacio rose above their competition and dispatched Canada’s Megan Nagy and Caleigh Cruickshank, 21-17, 21-17, to advance to the quarterfinals of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Saturday at SM Sands by the Bay.

Rondina and Gervacio, who were the second seeds in Pool D, will face Japan’s Shinako Tanaka and Sakurako Fujii, the top pair of Pool C, in the quarterfinals  at 3:30pm.

The Philippines used methodical approach in handling its lead late in the second set after two straight Canadian errors gave the Filipinos a 15-13 lead.

Gervacio scored on back-to-back kills for the 17-14 lead before Rondina sent over a hammer for the 18-14 buffer.

“From the beginning our mindset was we won’t let ourselves be embarrassed in front while representing our country,” said Rondina in Filipino. “We had to give it our all.”

Rondina scored another hit for the 19-16 lead before Gervacio’s effort out the Philippines at the 20-16 match point.

Cruickshank then overshot her serve that awarded the Filipinos the victory.

“I never expected that we would go this far, that we will still be playing at this point,” said Gervacio in Filipino.