THE quest to restore lost glory in the sands is in full swing for the renowned ‘SiPons’ tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons.
They’ve had their first taste of competitive play over the past month in a pair of home beach volleyball tournaments.
READ: Rondina, Pons to represent PH in SEA Games beach volleyball
These include a pair of wins in the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Futures in Nuvali and a title-clinching performance at the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Beach Volleyball National Open.
But such a comeback hasn’t been all smooth-sailing for ‘SiPons’ by any stretch.
“Hindi ko pa masasabi na nandun na kami sa form kasi kakabalik lang namin. Almost two years din kami na-out sa sands,” said Pons, as she received the second best outside hitter plum at the inaugural PVL Press Corps Awards Night on Wednesday.
“Ngayon, pang-isang buwan pa lang namin na nag-eensayo sa beach, so ang dami pa naming kailangan ulit na ayusin para sa darating na SEA Games.”
But the thought of having each other’s backs again after two years as PVL sister-team rivals with Creamline and Choco Mucho has been nothing short of comforting and reassuring for the hard-hitting duo.
“Familiar na kami sa isa’t-isa kasi matagal na rin kaming magkasama. Hindi naging mahirap yung transition din talaga in terms of chemistry, pero siyempre, yung transition from indoor to sands, hindi siya naging ganun kadali, pero wino-workout namin everyday,” Pons said.
“Masaya ako na magkasama na kami ulit. Excited din ako sa ipapakita namin ngayong darating na SEA Games kasi alam ko sa sarili ko at alam namin parehas kung gaano namin ka-gusto na makuha ‘tong SEA Games ulit.”
Cool, calm, collected
The thrust behind 'SiPons’' beach volleyball comeback is their dismal group stage exit with separate partners in the 32nd SEA Games back in 2023, ending the country’s streak of podium finishes in the competition.
Their shot at redemption comes seven months from now in the next edition of the biennial meet in Thailand.
For Pons, playing with a perennial champion team like the Cool Smashers reignited her killer instinct while embodying the team’s signature ‘good vibes’ mantra in the face of adversity.
“Unang-una siguro, yung good vibes na mantra ng team. Mainit yung pinaglalaruan namin so kailangan din talaga na ine-enjoy namin bawat ensayo namin kasi sobrang napapagod din talaga kami sa sands and yung araw pa,” the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference MVP said.
“’Yung mentality din talaga ng team sa Creamline, yun din yung isang baon ko sa beach na kailangan yung mindset talaga every game is yung winning mindset.”
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