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The Alas Pilipinas national beach volleyball teams, spearheaded by star duo Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, are ramping up preparations for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.

Fresh from their campaign at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge in Nuvali, Laguna, the Philippine teams are applying valuable lessons from competing against top-tier international squads to their SEA Games push.

“We learned a lot from every match at the Challenge,” said Pons, who, alongside Rondina, made history as the first Philippine pair—men or women—to reach the round of 24 in the event. “We must keep training hard and focus on being consistent in all aspects of our game.”

Brazilian head coach Joao “Kioday” Luciano Simao Barbosa named the SEA Games women’s pool: Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario, and Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor. Men’s hopefuls include SEA Games bronze medalists James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Vergara, and Edwin Tolentino and Larry John Francisco. Each country will field two teams per gender.

Team manager Cherry Macatangay confirmed all six pairs will undergo intensive training at the Nuvali Sand Courts to sharpen their skills and conditioning ahead of the December 12–19 competition at Bangkok’s Huamark Sports Complex.

“We’re ready anytime if chosen for the SEA Games,” said Gaviola. “We’ll make the necessary adjustments and keep working to improve.”

Thailand and Indonesia remain the SEA Games beach volleyball powerhouses, while the Philippines has earned six bronze medals—three each in the men’s and women’s divisions—since the sport became a medal event in 2003.

Alas Pilipinas is setting its sights on the top prize in beach volleyball at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.

“Gold is what we’re aiming for in Thailand,” said Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara during the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge at Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna. “We’ve had plenty of SEA Games bronze medals, and while we know it won’t be easy, we believe it’s possible. I’m hopeful our athletes can turn their Nuvali experience into a gold-medal run in Thailand.”

Thailand and Indonesia have historically dominated SEA Games beach volleyball, while the Philippines has earned six bronze medals—three each in the men’s and women’s divisions—since 2003.

PNVF head coach Joao “Kioday” Luciano Simao Barbosa confirmed the SEA Games lineups: Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, and Dij Rodriguez and Sunny Villapando for the women; and James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, and Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Vergara for the men.

Each country can field two pairs per division. The 33rd SEA Games opens December 9, with beach volleyball running from December 12 to 19 at Bangkok’s Huamark Sports Complex.

“We’re working very hard to fight for the gold,” said Kioday. “All teams are strong, but with a few more months of preparation, we’ll take it step by step—and reach for that gold.”

Spain’s Alejandro Huerta and Adrian Gavira, and Finland’s Anniina Parkkinen and Valma Prihti, claimed top honors at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge, wrapping up an electrifying weekend at Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Huerta and Gavira clinched their first Challenge title as partners after outlasting England’s Javier and Joaquin Bello in a thrilling three-set men’s final, 21–17, 19–21, 17–15. Huerta led the charge with 29 of Spain’s 40 attacks, crediting Gavira’s clutch defense for the win.

In the women’s final, Parkkinen and Prihti rallied for a 17–21, 21–14, 15–11 comeback over Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite, securing Finland’s first-ever Beach Pro Tour Challenge gold. Prihti delivered a dominant all-around performance with 25 points, including 16 attacks, five blocks, and four aces.

Italy’s Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri secured men’s bronze after a comeback win over Austria’s Christoph Dressler and Philip Waller, while Australia’s Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming took women’s bronze by edging Czechia’s Kylie Neuschaeferova and Martina Maixnerova.

The FIVB-sanctioned event, hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation under President Ramon “Tats” Suzara, drew 111 pairs from 25 countries—highlighting the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class beach volleyball.

Italy’s Manuel Alfieri and Alex Ranghieri, along with Australia’s Stefanie Fejes and Jasmine Fleming, grabbed bronze medals at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge, held Sunday at Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

World No. 48 Alfieri and Ranghieri rallied to beat Austria’s No. 28 tandem Christoph Dressler and Philip Waller, 17–21, 21–18, 15–12, to secure third place in the men’s division. The Italian duo tallied 41 points, with Alfieri firing 19 kills.

On the women’s side, Fejes and Fleming (No. 58) came from behind to edge Czechia’s No. 45 pair Kylie Neuschaeferova and Martina Maixnerova, 13–21, 21–15, 15–13. Fejes led the Aussies with 19 kills in their 40-point effort.

Earlier, British crowd favorites Joaquin and Javier Bello advanced to the men’s final after outlasting the Italians, 11–21, 21–19, 15–11, while Spain’s Alejandro Huerta and Adrian Gavira edged Austria’s Dressler and Waller, 22–20, 18–21, 16–14, in the semifinals.

In the women’s semis, Finland’s Anniina Parkkinen and Valma Prihti relied on strong blocking to defeat the Czech duo, 21–19, 18–21, 15–10, setting up a title clash with Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite, who swept Fejes and Fleming, 21–18, 21–18.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons came agonizingly close to extending their breakthrough campaign at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge, but their Cinderella bid ended in heartbreak after a hard-fought 18-21, 24-22, 15-12 defeat to Switzerland’s Annique Niederhauser and Menia Bentele on Friday night at the Nuvali Sands Court by Ayala Land in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The Alas Pilipinas aces looked on the verge of a stunning advance to the Round of 16, and possibly a deeper run, after forcing a thrilling extended second set. 

The Filipinas capitalized on the Swiss pair’s string of errors, seizing momentum and igniting hopes of a major upset in front of a roaring home crowd.

Alas Pilipinas stars Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons booked a breakthough win on Friday, October 17, in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour 2025 Nuvali Challenge in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The Filipina duo swept the Slovenian pair, 21-19, 21-9, whom they also defeated in the Futures in Budapest only last month. 

Three Filipino women’s pairs and two men’s tandems are set to compete for main draw berths in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge 2025 qualifiers on Wednesday at the Nuvali Sands Court in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga, along with Edwin Tolentino and Larry John Francisco, open the men’s campaign at 9 a.m. against international opponents. Meanwhile, top Filipino duo James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla earned an automatic slot in the main draw as seeded entries.
 

Elite 16 champions Javier and Joaquin Bello are back in the Philippines, aiming for redemption at the Beach Pro Tour Challenge from October 15 to 19 at the Nuvali Sands Court by Ayala Land in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Ranked 19th among 65 men’s pairs from 25 countries, the Bello brothers are determined to improve on last year’s bronze finish, where they fell to Germany’s Paul Henning and Lui Wust in the semifinals but bounced back to claim third place over Austria’s Timo Hammarberg and Philipp Wallar.

“The Bello brothers are coming,” announced PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara. “Like all participants, they’re here to provide top-level beach volleyball action.”

The English pair faces stiff competition, including host Philippines, which will field three teams led by 2023 SEA Games bronze medalists Ran Abdilla and James Buytrago. Defending champions and world No. 6 Swedish duo Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson are also back to defend their crown.

“We thank Ayala and Nuvali for hosting another world-class event,” Suzara added. “The level of competition keeps rising.”

In the women’s division, Team USA lines up five pairs, while the Philippines is represented by Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario, Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, and Kly Orillaneda with Gen Eslapor. The women’s field features 46 pairs from 15 countries, making this one of the most competitive editions yet.

For the first time, James Buytrago and Jude Garcia teamed up, claiming the men's title in dominant fashion after fellow Alas pair Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga were forced to retire in the Final due to injury.

Buytrago and Garcia secured the first set, 21-14, and were leading 9-5 in the second when Rosales suffered muscle cramps, rendering him unable to continue. The match was awarded to Buytrago and Garcia, capping off an undefeated campaign.

Buytrago and Garcia were in control throughout the tournament, going 5-0 without dropping a set. 

In pool play, they defeated University of the Philippines’ Christian Pitogo and Angelo Lipata (21-16, 21-11) and Intra Asian Volleyballista’s Krung Arbasto and Dominique Gabito (21-15, 21-14).

In the knockout rounds, Buytrago and Garcia overpowered College of Saint Benilde's Mark Jun Garcia and Alvin Sulayman, 21-14, 21-15, before defeating Alas teammates Ranran Abdilla and Edwin Tolentino, 21-15, 21-17, in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Rosales and Varga earned their spot in the Final with a hard-fought 21-17, 20-22, 15-13 victory over NUNS’ Alex Cabatuan and Sky Gemarino in a gripping semifinal battle.

Abdilla and Tolentino concluded their podium with a bronze medal finish.

After a two-year break from competitive beach volleyball, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons returned with a statement—they’re still the team to beat.

The dynamic duo, “SiPons,” capped off a perfect run at the PNVF Beach Volleyball National Open with a thrilling comeback victory over fellow Alas Pilipinas members Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, 17-21, 21-16, 16-14, in the finals held at the Nuvali Sand Courts in Laguna last Saturday, May 24.

Despite their time away from the sand, Rondina and Pons showed little rust at first. They went undefeated in all five matches, not dropping a single set until the championship, showcasing the chemistry and firepower that made them national icons in the sport.

Their campaign began with commanding wins in the pool stage—21-11, 21-6 over National University Nazareth School’s Faith Mangyao and Liezl Dejan, followed by a 21-12, 21-15 victory against University of the Philippines' Euri Eslapor and Kassie Doering.

In the knockout rounds, Rondina and Pons continued their dominance, cruising past Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario in the quarterfinals, 21-9, 21-12, then edging Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella in a tighter semifinal match, 21-15, 21-19.

But it was in the gold medal match where the pair showed their grit and championship pedigree. After dropping the first set, they rallied back to take the second and edged a nail-biting third set to seal the victory and reclaim their spot atop Philippine beach volleyball.

Their successful comeback serves as a reminder of their elite status and raises anticipation for future international campaigns as part of the national team.

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour — Nuvali Futures concluded on a high note on Sunday, May 4, after four days of thrilling action on the sand that saw top-tier talent from around the world collide with fierce competition.

In the women’s division, it was Shaunna Polley and Olivia Macdonald of New Zealand who stood tallest, claiming gold after an impressive campaign. 

The Kiwi pair displayed superior teamwork and consistent play throughout the tournament, culminating in a finals’ victory, 21-18, 21-14, over Japan’s Sakura Ito and Mayu Sawame, who clinched silver.

Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite. They outplayed Romania’s Beata Vaida and Francesca Ioana Alupei, 21-19, 19-21, 19-17, in the third-place match to round out the podium.