Carrying a surname deeply rooted in Far Eastern University women’s volleyball, fourth-year outside hitter Melody Pons is eager to carve her own path in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament—one opportunity at a time.
The younger sister of four-time PVL champion, 2025 SEA Games beach volleyball gold medalist, and Lady Tamaraws icon Bernadeth Pons, Melody made the most of her first start of Season 88, stepping in for team captain Gerz Petallo, who is dealing with a minor right shoulder injury.
The elder Pons steered the program to its most recent Finals appearance in Season 80 (2018).
Eager to open the second round on a high note, the 23-year-old outside spiker delivered a steady all-around performance, tallying nine points on six attacks, two blocks, and one ace, on top of nine excellent digs and five excellent receptions in FEU’s bounce-back win over the University of the East.
For Pons, a three-time UAAP beach volleyball bronze medalist, not a day or practice goes by—whether on the sand or the taraflex—without drawing inspiration from the legacy her older sister left with the Lady Tamaraws program.
“Ginagawa ko silang inspiration sa bawat laro ko. Kahit sa beach or mapa-indoor man. Yun lang yung hinuhugot ko para mas ma-inspire pa ako maglaro,” the Talisay City, Negros Occidental native said Wednesday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Nagsimula talaga yan sa preparation sa ensayo pa lang. Sobrang tutok sa amin ni Coach Tina kaya nag-translate rin siya sa laro ngayon.”
Beyond the trust and lessons shared within her family, Pons is equally grateful to have a dependable mentor in third-year head coach Tina Salak.
Acknowledging the adjustments the Lady Tamaraws had to make during Petallo’s brief absence, Pons downplayed her breakout outing, saying she was simply repaying Salak’s trust while helping propel FEU up the standings in the eight-team field.
As of writing, the Lady Tamaraws improved to solo third with a 5-3 win-loss record, overtaking the idle University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses and Adamson University Lady Falcons, who are tied for fourth at 4-3.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa ibinigay na opportunity ni Coach Tina at sa mga coaches na nagtiwala sa akin. Sinunod ko lang kung anong sistema yung binubuo namin at kung anong program yung binubuo ni Coach Tina; ini-execute lang namin,” Pons shared.
“Sabi nga ni coach, hindi madali yung naging adjustment, so huwag naming gawing joke yung binibigay sa amin na role. In-embrace ko yung binigay sa akin ni Coach Tina at na-execute naman.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For Salak, however, Melody’s impact—much like her older sister’s contributions with Creamline—goes beyond what appears on the stat sheet.
“Yung timing kasi kay Melody, parang binibigyan lang din namin ng importance yung timing. Yung role niya, kahit limited minutes, pero yung pagdating kasi, pag siya, once nag-step in sa court, ang laki kasi ng impact niya. So kahit na hindi siya nakakapagprovide ng ibang points, pero in a matter na nakakapagprovide siya ng ibang energy sa team,” Salak shared.
“Even na alam natin na, yun nga, limited minutes, isang serve lang, and everything, pero ang laki kasing contribution yon, without any numbers. Yun yung nakikita naming role na inaano ni Monggay, yung sisterhood nila, kasi iba na rin yung samahan eh. So pag once na kasi isang Monggay ang pumasok sa court, iba yung nagiging vibe, iba yung nagiging harmony kaya yung role niya with or without numbers, napaka-crucial sa amin at napakaimportante din sa amin yun.”
#WATCH: SIYA YUNG INSPIRATION KO 🐃
Melody Pons says she is motivated by her sister Bernadeth Pons to always be better, not just in indoor, but also in beach volleyball 🏐#ReadMore here 👉 https://t.co/GNks8cYoNC
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times #UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/sLtWanDCTR
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 18, 2026
