Bernadeth Pons found herself in her favorite part of the volleyball court right when she was about to lose her final game in the UAAP.
With FEU trailing La Salle 21-24 in the third set of Game Two in the UAAP Finals, it was Pons’ turn to serve. Most stars would have dreaded having to serve and play defense with their career and a championship on the line.
But Pons was where she thrived. She was where she had always been happiest on the volleyball court.
“Masaya din naman kapag nasa harap ka tapos ii-score ka. Pero iba kapag nasa likod ako tapos re-receive ka tapos de-depensa. Masaya ako kasi… masarap talaga sa pakiramdam ko tuwing nakakakuha ako ng palo ng kalaban,” the 21-year-old said in an interview with Tiebreaker times in 2017.
Pons controlled the next three points, gathering digs and keeping points alive for teammate Jerrili Malabanan to convert crucial points and tie the set at 24.
There was hope, but it was fleeting.
La Salle regained championship point in the next play, finding senior Kianna Dy for an off-speed kill. Season 80’s final point played out, fittingly, in the grueling pace that characterized the Finals. The Lady Tams and Lady Spikers traded spikes and free balls with Pons getting two cracks from the back row to equalize the match. Neither hit converted. The ball seemed to avoid Pons in the final play as Tin Tiamzon’s cut shot burst into Buding Duremdes’ arms and unto to the taraflex.
It took a few seconds, but emotions flooded Pons like it never had, crying as she huddled with her teammates for FEU’s alma mater hymn. In her final game, she embraced the familiar sting of disappointment one last time.
But, there was no inkling of regret from the native of Talisay, Negros Occidental. FEU wasn’t supposed to be a contender.
Pons wasn’t supposed to be a star, she wasn’t even supposed to be in Manila.
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In each of her five years, Pons was FEU’s best scorer, but that was never her calling card. As crafty a scorer as she was, the diminutive open hitter was a libero at heart. In truth, it’s hard for the untutored eye to see appreciate Pons’ brilliance. Her 5-foot-7 frame isn’t as commanding as the six-foot-five Jaja Santiago nor is she as high a leaper as Sisi Rondina.
In the UAAP, she was never the best in any skill. Instead, Pons was great at nearly everything. In Season 80, she was in the top 10 in scoring, spiking, digging and receiving (she led FEU in all those categories).
Looking back, Pons vividly recalls her first experiences with volleyball with a giggle. Raised by her father, Roberto, to play softball, Bernadeth was dismayed to find that her elementary school in Talisay City, Negros Occidental didn’t have a softball team. It wasn’t until she was in fourth grade that she picked up volleyball when a friend invited her to tryout for their school’s team. FEU’s best all-around player couldn’t dig or pass for her life in her first go-around with volleyball.
“Naiiyak ako noon sa inis kasi tumatalsik ‘yung bola tuwing sinusubukan kong rumeceive,” she recalls.
Eventually, Pons grew into one of the best volleyball players of her region with stints in the Palarong Pambansa from elementary to high school. Pons fielded a myriad of offers from different colleges in Manila upon graduation.
While there were many success stories of student-athletes coming out of Western Visayas and thriving in Manila like one of Pons’ favorite players Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, there were also plenty of cautionary tales.
Roger Gorayeb of San Sebastian College-Recoletos and former National University head coach Dong Dela Cruz knocked on Pons’ door, but she had her heart set on staying close to her family. She had her heart set on accepting an offer to attend the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos.
“Ano ba ‘yung Maynila? Paano ba ‘yung buhay doon? Wala pa akong masyadong family doon.
“May mga balita pa na may mga taga-doon sa amin na sumubok dito tapos umuwi lang rin sa amin. Nagdadalawang isip ako. Umabot sa point na napag-desisyunan namin ni Papa na doon na ako mag-aral sa amin, sa UNO-R,” recalled Pons, who was born in Bulacan.
What brought Pons to FEU would become the trend that most of her life decisions hinged on: unselfishness. Then Lady Tamaraws head coach Shaq Delos Santos approached Pons and her family with a stellar offer; a full-ride scholarship with free lodging, food, and a monthly allowance.
It was going to be tough to leave home for the then 16-year old and hack it out on her own in Manila. But, considering how much money her family would save, Pons decided to give FEU a shot.
“Noong kinausap na ni coach Shaq ‘yung parents namin, nagkaroon na ng offer na libre ‘yung dorm, pagkain, tapos walking distance lang ‘yung school,” she furthered. “Naisip ko agad na kapag nag-stay ako sa province, ‘yung pagkain at pamasahe ko every day is mabigat din para sa parents ko. Doon ko na naisip na kailangan ko mag-sacrifice para sa parents ko.
“Hinayaan naman ako ni Papa na mag-decide ng sarili ko.”
Pons recalls her ruckus first experiences in Manila. Coming from a generally conservative community in Talisay, it took some time for the mild-mannered Ilongga to adapt to Manila.
“Kasi pagdating ko dito, ‘yung language pa lang; ‘di talaga ako sanay mag-Tagalog kasi Ilonggo ang salita doon sa amin. ‘Di ko pa din masyadong kilala ‘yung mga tao. Paano ba ako makikisalamuha sa kanila? ‘Yung pormahan pa sa Manila, kumpara sa probinsya, ibang-iba.”
Pons credits hear teammates for helping her adjust. It also helped that some of her teammates like Buding Duremdes and, formerly, Gen Casugod were also Ilonggas.
“Pero hindi naman nagbago ‘yan si Pons, ganoon pa rin,” said Delos Santos, who now coaches Pons in Petron.
“Never naging problema ‘yan sa team. Walang arte ‘yan sa katawan. Aral-laro lang talaga siya.”
Pons’ evolution on the court is easy to trace. Every year in the UAAP, Pons added something to her signature style. One year, she figured out how to loft soft floaters precisely behind her blockers in stiff-neck inducing angles. By Season 79, Pons had developed her chiseled physique, with her shorts unable to contain her quads. Pons was the full package by Season 80 — everything an open hitter should be.
But her ego never grew with her game. During her rookie season, Pons approached media interviews with the reluctance of a toddler taught never to talk to strangers. Pons is still shy, but she’s opened up a bit more to media, being FEU’s captain. She echoes her coach’s sentiments, talks about personal motivation, all without losing the gentle caress of her Ilongga twang.
“Wala kang masasabi sa attitude talaga ni Pons eh,” said former FEU captain Remy Palma. “Siya ‘yung tipo na sinasabi na gagawin niya kung anong kailangan ng team sa kanya na alam mong totoo, walang halong whatever.
“Gusto lang talaga niyan is mag-volleyball.”
Pons ended up giving her family more than relief. Most of her allowance she sent straight home to her family.
“Hindi naman ako magastos o mahilig gumala so kaunti lang talaga ‘yung kailangan kong pera dito,” she said. When she joined Petron in the Phililline Superliga and started earning a professional-level salary, Pons had her mom, Maryjen, stop working at the carinderia back home.
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George Pascua knew that he had to get Pons to buy-in more than any other Lady Tamaraw when he took over. Pascua replaced Shaq Delos Santos, who was shockingly yanked as FEU head coach after leading his team to three UAAP Final Four appearances. Delos Santos also recruited most of the Lady Tamaraws’ Season 80 lineup.
Pascua knew how much the Lady Tams looked up to Pons as their leader and graduating senior. For the team to embrace his system, Pascua knew Pons had to embrace him.
“Madali naman kausap si Pons simula noong umpisa. Pero, siyempre, iba pa rin kasi kapag dumating na sa UAAP and may malaking pressure na sa team. Mas madali magtitiwala sa akin ‘yung team kung ‘yung leader nila may tiwala din sa coach. Sinabi ko talaga sa kanya na kailangan ko siya na tulungan ako na mag-lead sa team,” Pascua recalled.
Looking back at Pons’ part in guiding FEU through the ebbs and flows of Season 80, Pascua scoffed at why he even had doubts with Pons.
“Wala eh, wala talagang kahit anong naging problema kay Pons. Noong una, siguro napaisip ako kasi tahimik siya and kailangan mo talaga maging medyo madaldal kapag ikaw ‘yung captain. Pero, pati ‘yung pagkausap sa teammates niya, parang na-master niya na din,” Pascua said, pointing out that Pons developed an individualized way of talking to her teammates.
To understand Pascua’s initial hesitation, one has to look back at FEU’s troubled past with its stars. It was rare for players to smoothly play out their five-year eligibility with FEU. Cherry Vivas opted not to play her final year in green and gold. Maica Morada famously pulled out right in the middle of Season 74, opting to commit to Meralco rather than finish her fifth playing year.
Season 76, Pons’ rookie season, saw an abrupt revamp from FEU. The program decided to part ways with head coach Nes Pamilar midway through Season 75. Eventually, most of Pamilar’s players, including starters Rose Vargas, Gyzelle Sy, Wyneth Eulalio, and Mari Toni Basas, left along with him. None of those players had played out their five-year eligibility, although Sy (Season 78) returned to finish their UAAP careers in later seasons. (Rose Vargas was supposed to make one of the most prolonged returns in UAAP history this Season 80, but an achilles tear prevented her from suiting up)
FEU never had to worry about Pons’ loyalty. Whatever FEU asked of her, she tried her best to deliver. In her five years, Pons became FEU’s identity; the Lady Tamaraws were never quite favorites as La Salle and Ateneo waged their annual war in the Finals. But, they were always consistent, making the Final Four from Season 77 to 79 in under-the-radar fashion. The Lady Tams finally vanquished one of their perennial tormentors in Ateneo to make the Finals, only to fall short against the three-peat-seeking La Salle.
Pons’ unlikely yet consistent success is best illustrated in her beach volleyball career. It’s hard to fathom now considering how adept she is on sand, but Pons only learned to play beach volleyball in college. She had chances to play in high school, but playing in a two-piece suite bothered her.
“Hindi talaga ako nagbi-beach volley noon. So parang in-invite ako sa UNO-R sa beach volleyball inivitational. Ayoko talaga kasi nahihiya ako kasi magi-sports bra ka lang tapos panty. ‘Di ko talaga kaya kasi nahihiya ako,” she recalled.
But when FEU needed someone to partner with Charm Simborio in Season 77, Pons could not refuse.
“Kaso pagdating ko sa Manila, noong sinabi na ako ‘yung maglalaro, nahiya akong umayaw kasi pinapa-aral nila ako, libre lahat. So go na ako. Noong una, nakakahiya talaga kasi di ako sanay. Pero, nagtuloy-tuloy na, naging okay na. Sobrang laking tulong siya pagdating sa indoor.”
Pons and partner Kyla Atienza towed FEU to Finals appearances from Season 78 to 80, each time settling for silver. She won her first major beach volleyball tournament in the PSL with Cherry Rondina, her UAAP beach volleyball rival who beat her in Season 79 and 80.
Rondina was shocked to learn that Pons was a late-comer to beach volleyball.
“Akala mo pinaglihi din siya sa buhangin. Parang talangka gumalaw eh,” the UST Tigress jested.
“Pero grabe ‘yan si Pons. Sabi ko sa kanya kahit ‘di siya nag-champion sa beach volley, siya pa rin idol ko kasi iba talaga ‘yung galawan niya, iba rin ‘yung attitude niya. Walang arte.”
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Pons, as of press time, only has 11,000 Twitter followers with her last tweet coming on May 4, two days after losing in the Finals. Before that, most of her tweets were just links to her Instagram posts.
Compared to her fellow stars, Pons is barely famous. She doesn’t have the magnetic personality of Sisi Rondina, nor does she stick out like six-foot-five Jaja Santiago. She isn’t the prettiest, either. She’s rarely featured in commercials.
None of that really matters to Pons, especially if she’s being compared to other players. She was never raised to look at other people’s plates. She never played volleyball with the intention of becoming anything than more a volleyball player. Volleyball was a hobby for her before it became her main source of a livelihood.
Pons won her loyal fans over with her dynamic play; she became too good to ignore. In Season 80, the clamor was clear; people wanted Pons to be MVP with #MVPons trending nation-wide every time FEU played.
The award eventually went to Jaja Santiago. It didn’t matter to Pons.
“Actually, wala akong pakialam. Pero masaya ako na maraming naga-idolize sa akin. Hindi mo naman sila mapipilit kung sino ‘yung gusto nila, kung sino may ayaw. You can’t please everybody naman. Okay lang din, kasi may naga-idolize sa akin,” she said.
Which is not to say Pons doesn’t have incredibly dedicated fans. Just this season, FilOil Flying V Centre bouncers needed to have Pons use a secret exit to avoid the few hundred fans screaming for Pons at the players’ gate after one of FEU’s matches. She still choose to exit at the players’ gate.
It was also them who paid to bring Pons’ family to Manila in the Season 79 Final Four to watch Bernadeth play live in the UAAP for the first time.
“Nagulat din ako kasi parang surprise nila (fans) dapat ‘yun sa akin, kaso si Mama, ‘di naman napigilan na sabihin sa akin. So alam ko na bago pa sila pumunta,” Pons recalled, adding that having her family there when they lost to Ateneo certainly helped.
Her parents were supposedly again offered to come to Manila to watch the Season 80 Finals, but they declined since no one was available to house-sit.
FEU is a proud volleyball program — the winningest in the UAAP, as most alumni are quick to remind. With Pons never winning a championship, for the Lady Tamaraws, what type of legacy is she leaving behind? Will she even be remembered by the everyday volleyball fan? As diverse and fervid as the local volleyball ethos is, we are quick to forget. The UAAP, by its nature, creates new stars as players leave.
On the UAAP volleyball Wikipedia page, Pons’ name is nowhere to be found since she never won an individual title. While solely depending on Wikipedia, or even Google, to keep someone’s legacy alive is trivial, this is where names like Desiree Hernandez, Venus Bernal, Wendy Semana, and many others are immortalized, despite missing out on the mainstream boom of volleyball.
“Si Pons ‘yung tipo ng player na hindi nga nagka-award, pero grabe pa rin ‘yung impact niya sa mga teammates niya.
“Kahit sa mga batang gustong mag-volleyball; hindi naman matangkad si Pons, hindi rin naman siya pinagpalad noong bata siya, pero nag-tiyaga siya. Best example talaga siya na di ka dapat magpatinag sa sitwasyon mo,” thought Pascua.
Pons isn’t indescribable. There are words to pinpoint exactly what she is; altruistic, humble, unwavering, strong. For a program that prides itself on championships, Pons, arguably, gave them something more important; Pons is an ideology, a way of life. She was the breath of fresh air a program struggling with its stars needed.
The Lady Tamaraws never changed Pons, she changed the Lady Tamaraws.
