Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons give Alas Beach first Beach Pro Tour Challenge win of the year in Nuvali

 Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons delivered a breakthrough moment for Philippine beach volleyball, clinching the country’s first-ever win at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge with a dominant 21-19, 21-9 triumph over Slovenia’s Ziva Javornik and Tajda Lovsin on home sand Friday at the Nuvali Sands Court.

The victory not only marked a historic milestone for the Philippines in Challenge-level play but also served as redemption for the duo, who had fallen short in their opener against Brazil’s world No. 72 tandem Thainara Mylena Feitosa de Oliveira and Talita Simonetti the previous day.

Rondina and Pons — ranked No. 137 in the world — displayed renewed focus and chemistry, using sharp serves, quick transitions, and signature defensive hustle to take control early and never look back. 

The win also extended their mastery over the Slovenians, whom they previously defeated in last month’s Budapest Futures tournament, 16-21, 21-15, 15-9.

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LFG, SI-PONS

Alas Pilipinas’ Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons secured the country’s first-ever Beach Pro Tour Challenge win of the year by defeating Slovenia, 21-19, 21-9, on home soil in Nuvali, Santa Rosa, Laguna.

PNVF#BeachProTourNuvali pic.twitter.com/4Ycm6QSivG

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) October 17, 2025

The hometown crowd inside Nuvali roared with every Rondina dive and Pons spike, sensing the magnitude of the moment — the Philippines finally winning a main draw match in a Challenge-level Beach Pro Tour event.

Elsewhere in the tournament, the other Alas Pilipinas pairs continued their battles against world-class opposition. James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla fell to the towering Australian duo D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse, 14-21, 18-21, in Pool H. Meanwhile, Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor bowed to Finland’s Anniina Parkkinin and Vilhelmiina Prihti (11-21, 15-21), and Sonny Villapando with Dij Rodriguez lost to New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald (19-21, 14-21).

Despite the rough start for the national squads, the second-day breakthrough by Rondina and Pons injected much-needed confidence into the host delegation as they continued their home campaign under the scorching Laguna sun.

“We’re not out yet,” Rondina said with a grin. “We’ll keep fighting — this is just the beginning.”

With the win, the Philippines showed that its beach volleyball program is no longer just happy to compete — it’s ready to contend.

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