Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons relished the opportunity to compete against her long-time partner, Sisi Rondina of Choco Mucho, in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference.
The former beach volleyball partners showcased their skills in front of 14,014 fans inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum, delivering impressive performances for their respective squads in the main event of the Sunday triple-header.
Pons, however, had the last laugh as she led the Cool Smashers to a 25-18, 25-16, 24-26, 25-21 opening day victory against the Flying Titans.
“Normal lang. Lagi naman… nagkakalaban na (kami) before eh, college days pa lang magkalaban na kami,” said Pons, who earned back-to-back bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Games with Rondina during their time with the national team.
“Ayun, nakakaexcite lang din talaga na after how many years na naglalaro kami sa beach, ngayon lang din ulit kami naglaban ulit. Yun, wala lang nakakatuwa kasi kilalang kilala namin maglaro yung isa’t isa,” she added.
Pons scored a game-high 22 points, primarily on 21 attacks, as she stepped up for a short-handed Creamline side that was missing Kyla Atienza and Ced Domingo. Meanwhile, Rondina contributed a team-high 21 points with 19 attacks, an ace, and a block in a losing effort.
The former Far Eastern University standout expressed her joy in finally getting back to her old form and helping the Cool Smashers after spending the entirety of the Invitational Conference on the bench.
“Ayun, sobrang saya ako kasi goal ko talaga na makabalik talaga hundred percent eh after nung last conference kasi alam ko na mas marami pa akong maitutulong sa team so tinrabaho ko talaga every day yung rehab ko kasi yung sa injury ko before,” said Pons.
“Sobrang saya na nakikita ko na yung hirap ko and mahaba pa ang season so yun, tuloy-tuloy pa.”
