Berndeth Pons admitted that she is still working her way back to full rhythm after making her return to Creamline on Saturday night.
Pons missed both the Premier Volleyball League On Tour and the Invitational Conference while representing Alas Pilipinas in the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, leaving her with plenty of ground to make up as she readjusts to the demands of indoor volleyball.
“Medyo nangangapa pa rin ako sa loob ng court, nalilito pa rin, and ‘yun so tatrabahuhin ko pa rin,” said Pons.
“Marami akong highlights today, bloopers pala,” she quipped.
Despite still finding her footing on the indoor court, the 29-year-old outside hitter delivered a solid performance in the Cool Smashers’ 27-29, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 victory over Galeries Tower at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Pons finished with eight points off the bench, along with 12 excellent digs, in the two-hour-and-eight-minute victory.
“Ayun, it’s good to be back, ‘yung adjustment… Tinanong nga ako ni coach kahapon kung naka-adjust na ba ako. Sabi ko, medyo off-timing pa; kakabalik pa lang. Mag-two-two weeks pa lang bumalik sa training din at naglaro na rin agad,” said the Southeast Asian Games gold medalist.
“Ayun tatrabahuhin ko pa rin sa training, mahaba pa naman ‘yung tournament, madami pang time na ma-improve ko ‘yung kailangan kong ma-improve para mas magamay ko pa ‘yung indoor,” she added.
(C) PVL Images
Pons identified her timing as her biggest hurdle in transitioning back to indoor volleyball, explaining that the shift from beach volleyball to the indoor game has affected her rhythm.
While playing on the sand has helped her develop lighter movements and quicker takeoffs, Pons admitted that adjusting to the faster pace of indoor volleyball has sometimes left her out of sync.
“From sand to indoor, mas mabilis kang gumalaw sa indoor. Yun nga lang no sa sobrang bilis mo wala ka na sa timing. Ayun, magaan din tumalon, kasi galing ka sa sand, mahirap sa sand, pagdating mo sa indoor,” said the former league MVP.
“Noong unang training ko feeling ko na wala akong suot na shoes, kasi ang gaan ang sarap tumalon, pero masakit lang sa tuhod, dahil matigas so laging may pros and cons. Pero ‘yun ‘yung sabi ko kanina na marami pang time na makapag-adjust. Kailangan lang talaga mag-focus at magtrabaho sa training,” she added.
Still, Pons remains confident that her timing will return as she gets more games under her belt. The All-Filipino Conference’s all-to-play format also gives her ample opportunities to work through her adjustments and regain her rhythm.
“Ayun, sobrang good thing din for me. Lahat din… Talagang may time lahat para maka-recover kahit papaano, para hindi lahat masiyadong babad,” said Pons.
“And sobrang malaking bagay din siya na ma-expose din lahat ng member ng team, mabigyan ng chance na makapaglaro. Ayun nga kailangan namin mag-perform sa training pa lang, and si coach na bahala doon. Problema niya na yun kung sino ilalagay niya.”
