Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons take on a duo from Brazil and Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez face rivals from New Zealand in the main draw on Thursday hoping to make up for Alas Pilipinas’ setback in the qualification round of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour at the Nuvali Sands Court by the Ayala Land in the City Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Rondina and Pons square off with Mylene Thainarra and Talita Simonetti in the 3 p.m. match of the tournament hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, with Villapando and Rodriguez tackling Shaunna Polley and Olivia McDonald at 1:20 p.m. both on center court.
“We expect a strong opposition because we are competing in the Challenge level—far more competitive than the Futures,” Rondina said. “But we will be ready for tomorrow against anybody. We trained for this.”
Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor will compete against Anniina Parkkinin and Vilhelmiina Prihti in the 2:10 p.m. duel also both at center court.
Cambodia 2023 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalists James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla begin their campaign in the men’s main draw against world No. 47 D’ Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse of Australia also on Thursday at 10:10 a.m.
It wasn’t the way three Alas Pilipinas pairs wanted in the qualification round on Wednesday when the matches in all five courts of the Nuvali facility were played in a drizzle in the morning and under overcast skies the whole day.
Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario had a good chance of pulling off an upset but squandered the opportunity against Canada’s Amanda Harnett and Devin Corah, 15-21, 16-21.
In the men’s qualifiers, Larry John Francisco and Edwin Tolentino suffered a 15-21, 10-21 loss to Freddie Bialokoz and Issa Batrane of England while Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga fell to Canada’s Luke Se Greeff and Martin Litch, 17-21, 15-21.
