Four Alas Pilipinas pairs fell short at the start of the main draw action, putting themselves in must-win situations in the Volleyball World 2025 Beach Pro Tour Challenge on Thursday at the Nuvali Sands Court by Ayala Land in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
First to bow out under the scorching sun were James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, who succumbed to the taller Australian duo of D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse, 14-21, 18-21, in their Pool H morning match.
In the afternoon session, Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor absorbed an 11-21, 15-21 defeat to Finland’s Anniina Parkkinen and Vilhelmiina Prihti in Pool H. Meanwhile, Sonny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez fell to New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald, 19-21, 14-21, in Pool D.
Capping the day’s setbacks, the celebrated tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons yielded to world-ranked Brazilians Thainara Mylena Feitosa de Oliveira and Talita Simonetti, 17-21, 16-21, in Pool G play.
Still, all is not lost for Alas Pilipinas. Each pair must now win their remaining main draw matches — and possibly rely on favorable tiebreaks — to stay alive in the tournament hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation under president Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
“This is our first time competing in the Challenge level, and we’ve learned a lot of new things — but we’re not out yet,” said Rondina. “We’re just grateful to have played against them. They’ve been in the sport for a long time.”
Rondina and Pons are currently ranked No. 137 in the world, while Oliveira and Simonetti are one of seven Brazilian pairs in the world rankings, sitting at No. 72.
“We played against a great Brazilian team that can adjust to any situation,” said Brazilian coach Joao “Kioday” Luciano Simao Barbosa. “They changed the complexion of the game, and we couldn’t. We must learn from this.”
Up next for Rondina and Pons on Friday are Ziva Javornik and Tajda Lovsin of Slovenia — ranked No. 78 globally — whom the Filipinas defeated in the Futures tournament in Budapest just last month, 16-21, 21-15, 15-9.
“We’re hoping to beat them again,” added Kioday.
Meanwhile, Villapando and Rodriguez will face Japan’s Sakura Ito and Mayu Sawame, while Eslapor and Orillaneda are set to battle the United States’ Teegan Van Gunst and Piper Ferch.
Buytrago and Abdilla fought to stay alive later on Thursday evening against Americans Tim Brewster and Ryan Lerna.
