Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball stars Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons are set to receive the Fans’ Choice Beach Volleyball Award at the inaugural Asian Volleyball Confederation Gala after topping the public vote.
Rondina and Pons amassed 43,905 public votes to secure the honor, which will be presented by the City of Candon through Mayor Eric Singson during the AVC Gala on August 8 in Bangkok.
The inaugural event will celebrate the outstanding performances that defined Asian volleyball throughout the 2025 season.
“The AVC Gala was created to celebrate Asian volleyball excellence and to honor the individuals whose talent, dedication, and achievements continue to inspire millions throughout our continent,” said AVC President Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
“The nearly 400,000 votes cast by fans demonstrate the incredible passion that exists for volleyball across Asia, and we are proud to establish a new tradition that recognizes the very best of our sport.”
Suzara welcomed the successful launch of the inaugural AVC Gala, emphasizing the significance of recognizing excellence through a combination of expert evaluation and fan support.
Photo from Volleyball World
“We are excited to welcome our winners to the 1st AVC Gala Awards Night this August in Bangkok, where Asia’s volleyball family will come together to celebrate their remarkable achievements and the continued growth of our sport,” Suzara said.
“Volleyball has always been a sport driven by its community, and our fans remain at the heart of its continued success. By combining the expertise of the AVC Committee with the voices of our supporters, the AVC Gala not only recognizes excellence but also celebrates the strong bond between our athletes and the fans who inspire them every step of the way.”
Among the night’s top honorees are Japanese siblings Yuki Ishikawa and Mayu Ishikawa. Yuki will receive the Outstanding Men’s Volleyball Player award, while Mayu will be recognized as the Outstanding Women’s Volleyball Player.
In beach volleyball, Qatar’s accomplished tandem of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan will be honored as the Outstanding Men’s Beach Volleyball Players, presented by Neocolors, following another stellar season on the international stage.
Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami will receive the Outstanding Women’s Beach Volleyball Players award, presented by Rebisco, in recognition of their outstanding performances throughout the 2025 season.
Ferhat Akbaş is set to receive the Volleyball Coach of the Year award after guiding Japan’s women’s national team to another successful campaign. Meanwhile, Yuliya Akulova of Kazakhstan and Wang Lijun of China will be recognized as Volleyball Referee of the Year and Beach Volleyball Referee of the Year, respectively.
The Outstanding Player, Coach of the Year, and Referee of the Year awardees were selected through a voting system composed of 70 percent AVC Committee votes and 30 percent public votes, combining expert evaluation with fan participation.
Chinese superstar Zhu Ting topped the public voting with 42,996 votes to claim the Fans’ Choice Volleyball Award.
The inaugural AVC Gala will also honor Jizhong Wei with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his decades of leadership and lasting contributions to the growth of volleyball in Asia and beyond.
