by Kristel Satumbaga
Eight local teams, led by Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, are up for a tough challenge as they collide with fancied foreign teams in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open starting Thursday at the White House Beach in Boracay Island, Aklan.
Rondina, who is coming off a finals stint with University of Santo Tomas in UAAP indoor volleyball, is partnering with Pons, a former Far Eastern University standout, in the week-long event.
With Dzi Gervacio as partner, the high-leaping Rondina finished fifth last season.
Gervacio, however, begged off this time as she is part of the organizational team.
Twenty-eight male and 20 female pairs will not only be disputing for the top honors but also for the ranking points in the hopes of gaining a shot at playing in the prestigious FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Finals.
Among the local women’s teams were three-time Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) champions Dij Rodriguez and Bea Tan, UST’s Genesa Eslapor and Belove Barbon, DM Demontano and Jackie Estiquia, and Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain.
Local male pairs include Cebuanos Jade Becaldo and Mike Abria, fourt-time BVR winners Ranran Abadilla and Jesse Lopez, and James Buytrago and Anthony Arbastro.
“We’re hoping to provide platforms for our local players and opportunities to increase their level of competition by going up against some of the competitive teams around the world,” said tournament director Charo Soriano.
