PATTAYA, Thailand - Alas Pilipinas Women Beach pulled off a hard-earned 2-1 win over Indonesia to start its campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the Jomtien Beach.
The tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons overcame anxious moments to beat Indonesia's Desi Ratnasari and Sari Nur, 15-21, 21-16, 18-16, in the knockout tussle of a best-of-three tie called as the 'golden match.'
The 'Sipons' tandem won it for the Philippines with Pons overcame with emotions as she faced the media as it was the first time that it beat Indonesia after five SEA Games editions.
Rondina and Pons beat Ratnasari and Sari in the first match in three sets, 21-16, 18-21, 15-10, but Alas Women Beach was forced into the golden match after Floremel Rodriguez and Sunnie Villapando lost to the Indonesia 2 team of Josephine Selvina Anasthasya Kaize and Bernadetta Shella Herdanti of Indonesia, 12-21, 21-19, 15-13.
In the golden match, ‘Sipons’ was already up, 12-9, in the third but Indonesia, despite Sari dealing with an ankle injury she suffered early in the set, reached matchpoint, 14-13.
Rondina forced an extension with both teams going back and forth until Rondina and Pons delivered well-placed attacks to clinch the victory.
Breakthrough for Alas Women
“Sobrang happy lang na nakuha namin itong panalo na ‘to,” said a teary-eyed Pons. “Five SEA Games na namin nakalaban ‘yung Indonesia pero hindi kami nanalo sa kanila.”
Rondina and Pons are reuniting in this SEA Games after bronze medals in 2019 and 2021. The two played in 2023 in Cambodia but with different partners, and bowed out in the group stage.
Six teams are competing in the women’s beach volleyball tournament with the top two teams advancing to the gold medal match.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
