Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons. Handout/PNVF
MANILA -- The Philippine national beach volleyball teams are looking for a golden breakthrough in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
"Gold is what we're aiming for in Thailand," Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Ramon "Tats" Suzara said at the sidelines of the World Beach Pro Tour Challenge at the Nuvali Sands Court by Ayala Land in Santa Rosa, Laguna, on Sunday.
"We have plenty of [SEA Games] bronze and we know it is difficult, but we believe it's possible," said Suzara, also the president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation. "I'm hoping they will be able to convert what our athletes learned here in Nuvali to a SEA Games gold medal."
The veteran pair of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons had reached the round-of-24 of the tournament, bowing out after a three-set loss to a Swiss team on Friday night.
Afterward, both players stressed that they are shifting their focus to the SEA Games.
READ: Rondina, Pons bow out of Nuvali beach volley tilt after gritty stand vs. Swiss pair
READ: 'SiPons', Alas beach volley teams shift focus to SEA Games
Thailand and Indonesia are the dominant force in SEA Games beach volleyball with eight gold medals each in the women and men categories, respectively.
The Philippines, on the other hand, has six bronze medals—three in each gender—since the discipline became a medal sport in 2003.
Alas Pilipinas's beach volleyball head coach, Brazilian Joao "Kioday" Luciano Simao Barbosa, meanwhile, announced the pairs for the SEA Games— Rondina and Pons and Dij Rodriguez and Sunny Villapando in the women's and James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla, Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Vergara in the men's contest.
Each country is allowed two pairs in the Thailand games which start with the opening ceremony on December 9 with beach volleyball serving from December 12 to 19 at the Huamark Sports Complex in Bangkok.
"We're working so hard to fight for the gold. All the opponents are strong and we have a few months to prepare," Kioday said. "Step by step, we're going to reach for that gold."