The SiPons tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons have been the country’s top women beach volleyball players to date.
They, along with Dzi Gervacio and Dij Rodriguez, bagged the bronze medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games after a 14-year medal drought.
Pons and Rondina’s partnership started four years ago when they joined Petron Sprint 4T’s team in the 2017 Philippine Superliga Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup.
Since then, the two have been unstoppable on the beach. They’ve nabbed numerous championships on the local stage, aside from their national team triumph.
Even with Petron’s disbandment, the two continued to be together, signing with Creamline’s beach volleyball program.
With plenty of experience between the two, Pons and Rondina understandably want to remain a pair in the future.
“‘Yung partnership kasi namin eh. Kung ipa-partner mo ako sa iba, mag-aadjust na naman kami. Medyo mahihirapan,” said the 5-sfoot-6 Rondina.
“Ma-mimiss namin ‘yung isa’t isa kahit one day lang! Pero wala naman kaming pili, as long as magkikita kami walang problem.”
Their friendship began way back in high school during their Palarong Pambansa days as opponents — one of the reasons why their duo remains unmatched.
Yes, they remained close, even while on opposing sides of the net in the UAAP.
Describing each other, the two exchanged heaps of praise.
“Sobrang bait na tao niyan ni Sisi. Halimaw lang ‘yan sa court pero kapag sa labas, ng court sobrang bait niyan,” said the former FEU standout.
“Noong unang mag-partner kami ni Pons, hindi na kami nahirapan kasi madali na lang ‘yung communication namin. Kasi high school pa lang, naglaban na kami sa Palarong Pambansa,” said the UST product,
“Hanggang ngayon mas lumalim pa ‘yung partnership namin at pagiging magkaibigan namin. ‘Yun naman ang importante, lalo na kapag duo lang kayo sa event.”
