Rondina, Pons eye Asian Games podium

Sisi Rondina (R) and Bernadeth Pons

FILE

MANILA, Philippines — Country first.

Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons have set their sights on the beach volleyball competition of the Asian Games slated this September in Nagoya, Japan, after their PVL teams Choco Mucho and Creamline gave it a go on their pursuit for more glory.

This meant the Flying Titans will be without Rondina and the Cool Smashers, who just a month ago claimed the PVL All-Filipino Conference crown, will be minus Pons in the PVL on Tour tentatively set late next month.

They should be back though in time for the Reinforced and the All-Filipino Conferences late in the year.

Philippine National Volleyball Federation president Tonyboy Liao said he is planning on sending “Si-Pons” — the name the tandem is more known for — into several international events that should help them in their build-up for Nagoya, which is set September 19 to October 4.

Although they got the early boot, Rondina and Pons showed up with a lot of promise in went out fighting in a 22-20, 24-22 loss to Swiss misses Annique Niederhauser and Menia Bentela Thursday night in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour in Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The Filipinas also succumbed to the taller, more experienced Cirkeline Roed Hog and Sofia Norager Bisgaard of Denmark in another heartbreaker, 21-19, 21-17, the morning of the same day.

With an extensive build-up upon them, expect them to get through the hump and accomplish what they originally set out for — a fight for a podium finish.