Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons officially made their comeback to the national beach volleyball team as the Philippines hosts the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour (BPT) Futures Nuvali in the City of Santa Rosa, Laguna, starting Thursday, May 1.

The pair, gold medalists at the BPT Futures Subic Bay in 2022, have been rivals in the domestic indoor volleyball league but are now reuniting with a shared goal – to clinch the Southeast Asian Games gold, after securing bronze medals twice in the regional competition.

The Return of a Dynamic Duo

Rondina and Pons, known as SiPons, will battle alongside four other Alas Pilipinas women’s teams and four men’s tandems in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures tournament. The event, held at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts, will feature elite athletes from 19 countries, including powerhouse teams from the US, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Israel, Australia, and Italy.

Rondina expressed her excitement, stating, “It feels great to be back and compete on the world stage once again. We’ve been through a lot, and now we focus on achieving that SEA Games gold. Our return here is just the beginning.”

Young Stars Make Their Mark

In addition to Rondina and Pons, up-and-coming stars like Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara from the University of Santo Tomas are gaining attention. Their strong performances in recent international tournaments have proven their potential, and they will be eyeing top honors in this challenging tournament.

Progella commented, “We’ve trained hard for this, and competing alongside these seasoned players is an opportunity to learn and showcase our skills.”

Exciting Partnerships and New Teams

Another pair to watch is Sunnie Kalani Villapando, who has played for Stanford and the University of Southern California, teaming up with Jen Gaviola of the Coast Guard. After a promising stint in the Songkhla Futures in Thailand, Villapando is optimistic, saying, “This tournament is key preparation for the upcoming SEA Games.”

Other notable teams include Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa from National University, as well as the pairing of Alexa Polidario and Dij Rodriguez.

Men’s Division Highlights

On the men’s side, the Alas Pilipinas team boasts some familiar faces. Jude Garcia and Jaron Requinton, who earned a bronze medal in the 2023 SEA Games, are back to defend the Philippine flag. They are joined by Lerry John Francisco and Edwin Tolentino, as well as the Ronniel Rosales-Alex Iraya tandem, which has proven to be a formidable combination.

International teams like Israel’s Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov, ranked No. 88 globally, will also be competing for the top spot after winning the BPT Futures Songkhla in Thailand last month.

A Thriving Volleyball Scene

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures Nuvali tournament is an exciting addition to the Philippines’ growing reputation in international volleyball. As the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), led by President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, continues to support and elevate local talent, the country’s beach volleyball scene is receiving global attention.

The event’s success highlights the rising appeal of the sport in the region and its growing presence in the competitive global landscape.

As the tournament kicks off, the country’s beach volleyball players are not just competing for gold, but for the pride of representing the Philippines on the world stage. The road to the Southeast Asian Games and beyond begins here in Nuvali.