Rondina, Pons to skip PVL on Tour to prepare for Asian Games

Alas Pilipinas Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons in action during the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

SANTA ROSA, Laguna–Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons are beginning their buildup for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan in September, choosing to focus on Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball duties and skip the start of the new Premier Volleyball League season.

Rondina and Pons said they will return to their respective club teams in the Reinforced Conference, with Rebisco–which owns Choco Mucho Flying Titans and Creamline Cool Smashers–giving them clearance and full support to represent the country on the sands.

“We will miss the [PVL] On Tour. That’s why we’re very thankful to our management because they really support what the players want, and they’ve been very supportive of us,” said Rondina in Filipino.

The Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball gold medalists recently missed the Round of 24 in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge after a heartbreaking 20-22, 22-24 loss to Switzerland’s Annique Niederhauser and Menia Bentele on Thursday at Nuvali Sands Courts.

“I’m thankful to our management for allowing us to focus on beach volleyball until after the Asian Games,” Pons said. “We’re really looking forward to the tournaments we’ll join abroad because they’ll give us more exposure and experience to further improve our game as preparation for the Asian Games.”

WATCH: Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons remain proud of their run in the #BeachProTour Nuvali Challenge despite the early exit. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/w2Nt24GPQM

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Despite a 0-2 finish in Group H, which also included a loss to Denmark’s Sofia Bisgaard and Cirkeline Hog, Rondina and Pons remained proud of their campaign after facing world-class competition.

“We’re still really looking forward to the positive things and the experience we’ll gain from joining international tournaments,” Rondina said.

“We’ll continue training and preparing for everything we need to work on. Our biggest goal is really the Asian Games. Right now, we’re just waiting and praying that everything pushes through as planned.”

Tonyboy Liao, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, said the Alas beach volleyball teams will continue competing internationally as part of their preparations for the Asian Games, with Rebisco fully backing the program.

“Hopefully, those tournaments push through, and hopefully we continue learning a lot from them. We’ll really keep working hard every day in training because our main goal is the Asian Games,” Pons said.

Rondina and Pons also expressed confidence that their respective PVL clubs will remain competitive in the PVL On Tour in June.