THE FILIPINO contingent including some UST spikers fell in their respective matches at the Manila Open of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball Beach Volleyball World Tour at the SM Sands by the Bay in Pasay City last Saturday.
The pair of Lady Spiker Cherry Rondina and former Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagle Angeline Gervacio succumbed to Japan’s Tanaka Shinako and Fuji Sakurako in the quarterfinals, 13-21, 21-17, 11-15.
The tandem ended the tourney at sixth place, the highest among all four Filipino womens’ teams.
“I’m very happy. It was an honor to bring our flag through FIVB, na malaking liga. We fell short but we gained experience naman and we showed that despite having physical disadvantages,” Rondina, three-time UAAP beach volleyball MVP, told the Varsitarian.
The Rondina-Gervacio duo earlier defeated a taller Canadian duo of Megan Nagy and Caleigh Cruickshank, 21-17, 21-17, to advance to the quarterfinals
In men’s play, the tandem of former Tiger Spikers Kris Roy Guzman and Henry Pecaña crashed out of contention after succumbing to Taiwan’s Wang Chin-Ju and Hsieh Yah Jen in straight sets, 20-22, 14-21.
Rondina hopes for a long-term volleyball program in the Philippines that will make its players keep up with the standards of international beach volleyball contention.
The Philippine bets underwent two weeks of preparation before stepping in the sands for the international tourney, which will merit a $10,000 cash prize and FIVB ranking points for the winning country.
