BERNADETH Pons’ decorated two-year Creamline stint will soon come to an end, at least for now.
The reigning Reinforced Conference MVP will temporarily take a step back from indoor volleyball to begin her quest for redemption in beach volleyball with Sisi Rondina at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December.
The nationals’ bid for a hat-trick of SEA Games podium finishes fell flat in 2023 in Cambodia as Rondina and Pons with separate partners both failed to make it out of the group stage after back-to-back bronze medal wins in the two prior editions.
But before returning to her first stomping grounds, Pons will relish yet another career first: her maiden international indoor volleyball tournament in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.
Even with a meager four-piece in Creamline’s 17-25, 16-25, 16-25 loss to Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu in pool play, nothing beats the pride and euphoria in wearing the Philippine flag on her chest for the 28-year-old ace spiker.
READ: Kazakh powerhouse Zhetysu sweeps Creamline in AVC
“Sobrang grateful ako kasi ito ‘yung first time ko na mag-represent ng country sa indoor [volleyball],” said Pons.
“Kasama ko pa ‘yung Creamline team so sobrang ine-enjoy ko lang talaga ‘yung opportunity and ‘yung moment na maglaro ngayon.”
Just like in beach volleyball, Pons knows the international arena all too well.
And if there’s anything she learned from winning four PVL titles and a Grand Slam, it’s the fearless champion-caliber heart and composure which she’ll be bringing to the sands very soon.
“International [tournament] ‘to, international din ‘yung mga kalaban, so siguro kahit sino talaga ‘yung kaharap mo, malaki man sila, maliit man sila, same lang namin kami ng game — volleyball,” said Pons.
“Pare-parehas kami nagte-training kaya dapat tapang lang palagi, kahit sino ‘yung kaharap mo.”
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