SANTA ANA, Cagayan — Creamline 1’s Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons completed a women’s golden double in the bubble following a 21-13, 21-11 conquest of Creamline 2’s Dij Rodriguez and Dzi Gervacio in the BVR on Tour second leg Sunday here.
Rondina and Pons went perfect in 13 matches in the two-leg bubble. They have actually won 19 consecutive games dating back to the 2019 Lianga leg, where the prolific duo also emerged victoriously.
Also pulling off a championship double are Krung Arbasto and Jude Garcia of Creamline 1. They bested Tuguegarao’s James Pecaña and AJ Pareja, 21-17, 21-16, in the men’s finale.
The pairs of Rondina and Pons and Arbasto and Garcia were not the only big winners in the BVR restart. The beach volleyball community won as well.
The championship capped a successful two-leg bubble – and BVR on Tour’s first tournament since September 2019. The five-year-old beach volleyball circuit continues to give the athletes a pathway to pursue their dreams on the sand court in this challenging time.
There were a lot of obstacles along the way, but for BVR founder Charo Soriano, it was very worth it. They managed to keep the entire delegation safe and healthy in the entire bubble.
It was Rondina’s fifth BVR crown, while Pons captured her third. The twin Santa Ana legs also served as a build-up for the national team standouts led by Rondina and Pons for next month’s Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship in Phuket, Thailand.
“Sobrang grateful sa pagkakaroon ng opportunity na makapaglaro dito. Tuloy kami sa goal namin,” said Pons, who also thanked the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and the BVR for making it happen.
In the semis, Rondina and Pons withstood PLDT’s Ella and Iza Viray’s A-game in the first set. Then they hammered out a 21-17, 21-12 victory to advance to the title match.
Rodriguez and Gervacio scraped past Sta. Lucia 1’s Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño, 21-13, 17-21, 18-16, in the 52-minute semifinal to arrange a championship duel with Rondina and Pons
The Viray twins turned back Estoquia and Demontaño, 21-17, 21-19, to claim the bronze medal.
The title was seventh for Arbasto in BVR, while Garcia captured his second straight – all in the bubble. Now, the duo are looking forward to performing well in international competitions.
“Siguro focus lang kami sa goal. Hindi lang kami nagpe-prepare dito (BVR) kundi sa Asian Senior Beach Volleyball Championship sa Thailand (next month) and sa SEA Games next year,” said Garcia.
Arbasto and Garcia, who are also undefeated in 14 matches in the bubble, first marched to the title match via injury forfeit after Negros Occidental Beach Volleyball Club’s Eljhay Ronquillo was not able to complete the game.
Pecaña and Pareja booked a Finals date with Arbasto and Garcia after defeating EVI Construction’s Doy Barrica and KR Guzman, 21-17, 21-14, in the other half of the semifinals.
Barrica and Guzman topped Ronquillo and Deanne Neil de Pedro, 21-16, 23-21, to achieve a podium finish.
The BVR on Tour Santa Ana is sponsored by Puso Pilipinas, Smart Sports, Santa Ana LGU, Tuguegarao LGU, Board Member Aj Ponce, Congressman Junjun Nolasco, TikTok Philippines, EVI Construction, Savepoint Plus, Xentro Mall, Toyota Tuguegarao, Ibuprofen Paracetamol Alaxan FR, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Enervon and Enervon Activ, and supported by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
