Alas Pilipinas members Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons successfully ended Thailand’s dominance in beach volleyball as the Philippines won the gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at Jomtien Beach in Chonburi, Thailand, on the afternoon of December 19.
A Dynasty Challenged on Thai Soil
For more than two decades, women’s beach volleyball at the SEA Games belonged exclusively to Thailand.
Since the sport became a medal event in 2003, the Thais had ruled every single edition, winning eight straight gold medals and defending their dominance on home sand.
From Early Setback to Golden Opportunity
The Filipinas entered the finals fully aware of the challenge ahead.
Earlier in the tournament, they had absorbed their lone defeat in the preliminary round which was an emphatic loss to the host nation. Even then, reaching the final itself marked a breakthrough, as it was the country’s first-ever appearance in a women’s beach volleyball gold medal match.
But instead of shrinking under pressure, the quartet of Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, and Sunny Villapando returned to the sand with renewed belief, sharper execution, and a clear purpose: redemption.
SiPons Set the Tone
Veteran tandem Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, known as “SiPons” wasted no time seizing momentum in the opening match.
Facing Thailand’s decorated pair of Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee and Taravadee Naraphornrapat, the Filipinas attacked relentlessly, controlling the tempo from the opening rally. Rondina powered early runs, while Pons delivered timely kills and steady defense as the duo claimed the first set.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 1: 21-13
The second frame tested their composure.
Thais answered with early aces and a brief surge, as the hosts refused to fold. Thailand regrouped in the second set, capitalizing on a late run to steal it and force a deciding third frame.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 2: 21-17
All Out in Set 3 and Ends 32-Years of Golden Medal Drought
Unfazed by the setback, Villapando and Rodriguez reset quickly.
They surged to an early lead in the race to 15, stringing together a blistering run that left the Thai pair scrambling. Villapando stretched the margin, Rodriguez piled on the pressure, and the Filipinas never looked back.
At match point, Villapando found open sand and delivered the championship-clinching attack, sealing the third-set win and igniting celebrations on Philippine soil thousands of miles away from home.
FINAL SCORE OF SET 3: 15-6
Photo Credits: Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Media Pool
Alas Pilipinas Women delivered the unthinkable, stunning the long-time queens of the sand with a commanding 2-0 victory in the finals to secure the Philippines’ first-ever SEA Games gold medal in women’s beach volleyball.
The triumph also carried broader significance, snapping a 32-year drought for Philippine volleyball gold in the SEA Games since the women’s indoor team last topped the podium in 1993 which also at Thailand’s expense.
Voices from a Golden Moment
Emotion poured out immediately after the final point.
“Grabe, sobrang saya, lalong-lalo na sa amin ni Pons na pang-lima na namin ito and nakapag-gold din kami sa international,” Rondina said.
Photo Credits: Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Media Pool
She later reflected on the support behind the breakthrough:
“I am grateful that we have a good support system: my teammates, our coaches, our staff, the management, sponsors, the fans. Just this morning, I saw a question posted on social media, asking if we could make history today. I replied ‘Definitely!’ and I am happy I wasn’t wrong.”
Pons, who had long visualized this very moment, shared her emotions:
“Ako, sobrang grateful ko lang din talaga kay Lord, kasi minanifest ko talaga itong gold namin. Ilang beses ko rin na-imagine ‘yung moment na ganito—minsan naluluha na lang ako bigla kasi nai-imagine ko ‘yung moment na ‘to.”
She also recalled the motivation that fueled their return:
“Yun ang hugot namin, wala kaming medal nung last SEA Games, sobrang disappointed kami. Sabi namin babawi kami.”
A Golden Debut for Villapando
For Sunny Villapando, the victory was especially meaningful. Competing in her first SEA Games, the Filipino-American standout capped her debut with gold.
Photo Credits: Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Media Pool
“I’m feeling grateful. Thank you guys for bringing me in and [allowing me] to represent our country. Laban Alas! Laban Pilipinas,” she said.
Reflecting on the sacrifices behind the scenes, Villapando added:
“I’m feeling like really happy. If that’s like there are words to describe any of the emotions that we’re feeling. I don’t think anybody gets to see this shiny moment, but we all know the pain and heartbreak that happen every single day in practice. I think this was the result of us sacrificing something. I think that we just came out and executed. We did what we said we’re gonna do six months ago.”
She also credited consistency for carrying them through a grueling campaign that included wins over Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam en route to the final.
“I’m so proud of all of us for fighting and for never giving up on every ball,” she said.
Trust, Redemption, and Leadership
Rondina never doubted her younger teammates, even when the deciding match went the distance.
Photo Credits: Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Media Pool
“We were already warming up, but coming here, I really trusted them. I know how they play, and I honestly believed they were going to win earlier. I was nervous, but they pulled it off,” she said.
Alas Pilipinas head coach Joao Luciano Kioday also acknowledged the long road to success, thanking former federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara for elevating the program.
“Ramon, thank you so much, you’re responsible for having made this success … I just want to share with you [this gold], you’re part of this—your hard work for beach volleyball.”
A Breakthrough Years in the Making
Before this golden moment, the Philippines’ best finishes in women’s beach volleyball were bronze medals in 2019 and 2021.
The program’s rise stalled briefly in 2023 when the Nationals missed the podium altogether.
That disappointment, however, only sharpened their resolve.
On Friday in Chonburi, years of sacrifice, heartbreak, consistency, and belief converged on the sand. Against the sport’s most dominant program, Alas Pilipinas Women stood fearless and victorious.
At last, the Philippines is the queen of SEA Games women’s beach volleyball.
