Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons in action in beach volleyball. BVR photo
MANILA -- Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons overcame a one-set deficit to beat Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez, 11-21, 21-15, 15-6, in an all-Alas women's final to rule the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Beach Volleyball Invitational organized by Beach Volleyball Republic on Sunday at Nuvali Sand Courts in City of Santa Rosa, Laguna.
It was the second straight gold for the decorated Rondina-Pons pair following their conquest in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Beach Volleyball National Open organized by Beach Volleyball Republic last May, where they also defeated Villapando and Rodriguez.
READ: Pons, Rondina headline 13-team field at PNVF Invitational
Rondina and Pons completed a two-match sweep of Pool A, overpowered University of Santo Tomas' Cameron Villaruz and Lorie Gamboa in the quarterfinal, and turned back Alas teammates Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola in the semifinal.
In the men's final, Ranran Abdilla and James Buytrago bested fellow national team stalwarts Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga, 21-12, 21-10, to secure the championship without dropping a set.
Abdilla and Buytrago topped Pool A, topped the UST pairs of Smaela Salon and Alijhan Apdian in the Last 8, and Aldwin Gupiteo and Lance Malinao in the Final Four.
Alas 3's Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor bagged third place after pulling off a 21-17, 21-12 victory over Polidario and Gaviola in the women's side.
Gupiteo and Malinao complete the podium finishers as the Tiger Sands duo stunned Tolentino and Francisco, 19-21, 21-19, 18-16.
The two-day competition served as good preparation for the Alas beach volleyball team in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand next month.
The Philippines will be represented by Rondina and Pons, and Rodriguez and Villapando in the women's, and Buytrago and Abdilla, Rosales and Rancel Varga in the men's in the beach volleyball serving from December 12 to 19 at the Huamark Sports Complex in Bangkok.
The country has six bronze medals, three in each gender, since the discipline became a medal sport in 2003.