Round-of-16-bound pair Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons finished second in Pool E after suffering a close loss to Kazakhstan in the women’s beach volleyball event of the 20th Asian Games in Japan.
Rondina and Pons recovered from a slow start but could not sustain their momentum, falling to Kazakhstan’s Merey Kozakhmet and Laura Kabulbakeva, 17-21, 21-10, 10-15, at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court on Friday morning.
Kazakhstan secured the top spot with a perfect 2-0 record, while the Alas Pilipinas duo settled for second with a 1-1 card. ‘SiPons’ had beaten Bangladesh’s Most Sabina Khatun and Mst Lucky Khatun last Sunday, 21-6, 21-6.
Meanwhile, Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella will return to action on Saturday, when they battle Hong Kong’s Wong Man Ching and Tsang Ngok Ling for the top spot in Pool G.
