Sisi Rondina and Dij Rodriguez had to overcome a tough challenge from National University-DutchBoy’s Kat Epa and Kizil Quijote before pulling off a 19-21, 21-13, 15-6 victory to capture the Beach Volleyball Republic On Tour Sipalay Open women’s championship on Sunday at a packed Poblacion Beach in Sipalay City.
In their highly anticipated partnership debut, Rondina and Rodriguez overcame two of their biggest hurdles en route to completing a five-match sweep in the Negros Occidental coastal city.
The pair first survived a semifinal showdown against fellow Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Sunny Villapando and Gen Eslapor, escaping with a 21-15, 11-21, 15-12 victory.
For Rondina, the triumph was made even more special by the overwhelming support from Sipalaynons, marking her first BVR appearance since the 2021 Santa Ana, Cagayan bubble tournament.
“Unti-unting nakikilala talaga ang beach volleyball sa Pilipinas. We are hoping na maraming liga na ganito. Hindi lang sa Sipalay, pati sa buong Pilipinas,” Rondina said.
The victory gave Rondina her sixth BVR On Tour title, while Rodriguez secured her fourth crown.
Epa and Quijote advanced to the finals after rallying past Beach Volley Manila 1’s Kly Orillaneda and Euri Eslapor, 19-21, 21-16, 15-10, in the other semifinal match.
Villapando and Gen Eslapor later salvaged the bronze medal with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Orillaneda and Euri Eslapor.
In the men’s division, Alas Pilipinas standouts Ranran Abdilla and Ronniel Rosales avenged their earlier elimination-round loss to Beach Volleyball Manila’s Edwin Tolentino and Lerry Francisco with a hard-fought 21-23, 21-18, 15-7 victory in the championship match.
The title was the second BVR On Tour crown for Abdilla and Rosales following their triumph in the Nuvali Open last March. Abdilla, who also ruled the Sipalay leg in 2023, now owns eight BVR On Tour gold medals.
After dropping the opening set, Abdilla and Rosales showed composure and resilience to force a deciding third set, where they dominated to deny Tolentino and Francisco a repeat title.
Earlier in the semifinals, Abdilla and Rosales swept NU-DutchBoy’s Sky Gemarino and Alex Iraya, 21-16, 21-15.
Tolentino and Francisco, meanwhile, survived a scare from University of Santo Tomas duo Dom Gabito and JM Lagaran, escaping with a 21-19, 11-21, 16-14 win to clinch the other finals berth.
Gabito and Lagaran eventually secured bronze after defeating Gemarino and Iraya, 21-18, 27-25, in an all-UAAP battle.
In the women’s quarterfinals, Villapando and Gen Eslapor gained a measure of revenge by ending NU 1-DutchBoy’s Vilmarie Toos and Honey Grace Cordero’s bid for back-to-back BVR On Tour titles, 21-17, 17-21, 15-9, in a rematch of the Nuvali Open final.
Rondina and Rodriguez defeated Capital1’s Pauline Gaston and Roma Mae Doromal, 21-14, 21-15, while Orillaneda and Euri Eslapor turned back Ateneo alumni Fille Cayetano and Bea Tan, 23-21, 21-15. Epa and Quijote also swept Beach Volley Manila 2’s Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola, 21-17, 21-17.
In the men’s quarterfinals, Gemarino and Iraya swept Malaysia 1’s Adam Harif and Zuhairi Abdullah, 21-11, 21-15, while Abdilla and Rosales shut down Malaysia 2’s Noraiman Shah and Baginda Senusi, 21-14, 21-12. Tolentino and Francisco routed Sipalay’s John Mirasol and Rogelio De Leon III, 21-9, 21-10, while Gabito and Lagaran defeated De La Salle University pair Andraie Falsis and John Oracion, 21-16, 21-12.
