The Philippines launched its campaign in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures Nuvali with mixed outcomes, as local beach volleyball standouts battled intense heat, international competition, and even fellow compatriots on the sands of Santa Rosa, Laguna last May 2 2025.
UAAP Champions in the Sand: Cordero and Epa
National University’s dynamic duo, Honey Grace Cordero and Kat Epa, made an explosive start during the qualification rounds on Thursday, routing Australia’s Charlotte Graham and Emma Hannagan in straight sets, 21-11, 21-8. The dominant display saw Cordero unleash a series of pinpoint service aces, including four in a row to close out the first set. Alongside Epa, the pair maintained pressure with well-placed shots and creative attacking variations, sealing the win in just under half an hour.
Later in the day, Cordero and Epa overcame Japan’s Keiko Urata and Minami Asano in a gritty comeback win, 17-21, 21-11, 15-12, to earn their spot in the main draw.
However, their momentum took a hit on Friday in their Pool B opener as they fell to Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Gruzsinskaite, 17-21, 17-21, in a tightly contested match that showcased their resilience but ultimately ended in defeat.
Dynamic Duo of Alas Pilipinas: SiPons
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated return of veteran tandem Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons — famously known as “SiPons” — electrified the tournament. Making their comeback to international beach volleyball after a year focused on indoor play, the SEA Games bronze medalists edged out fellow Filipinas Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara of UST in a thrilling all-Filipino clash. Rondina and Pons held firm in a three-set battle, winning 21-17, 18-21, 15-12, to kick off their Pool A campaign on a high note.
The tightly contested encounter highlighted the depth of local talent, as the younger Progella-Pagara tandem showed poise and energy but were ultimately outmaneuvered by the more experienced pair. Rondina and Pons, who have represented the country in past SEA Games (2019 and 2022), aim to build momentum as they eye a return to regional glory later this year in Bangkok.
Organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) under the leadership of President Ramon “Tats” Suzara—who also holds top posts in the AVC and FIVB—the tournament gathers 19 nations in a highly competitive field.
On the men’s side, they had a rocky start. James Buytrago and Rancel Varga, silver medalists in last year’s Beach Pro Tour, fell short against Israel’s Tamir Hershko and River Day, 21-23, 12-21. Fellow Filipinos Lerry John Francisco and Edwin Tolentino also stumbled in their opener, bowing to Czechia’s Tomas Semerad and Adam Miroslav Stocek, 13-21, 9-21.
Despite some early setbacks, the performances of Cordero, Epa, Rondina, and Pons have set the tone for what promises to be an intense and promising week for Philippine beach volleyball on the international stage.
UAAP Stars Scorches: Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara
The action continued last May 3, Saturday, for the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures in Nuvali. The Philippines’ top women’s beach volleyball squads battled both fierce international competition and the punishing summer heat which resulted in mixed outcomes as the tournament headed into its decisive stages.
N.U.’s rising tandem of Cordero and Epa showcased grit and poise in the searing conditions, outlasting Israel’s Ronni Rivka Lavie and Anita Dave in a three-set nail-biter, 21-15, 14-21, 15-9, to book their spot in the Round of 12. The midday heat climbed above 38°C, adding an extra layer of challenge to an already intense match. Despite stumbling in the second set, the Filipinas found their rhythm in the decider, wrapping up the victory in just under an hour.
Also punching their ticket to the knockout stage were University of Santo Tomas’ Khylem Progella and Sofia Pagara, who stunned the Netherlands’ Danieke Prins and Annemieke Driessen, 23-25, 21-11, 15-10, in a display of tenacity. Facing taller and more experienced opponents, the young pair elevated their energy and attack, even as their Dutch rivals were warned for delaying play. The Filipinas recorded 35 attack points and eight aces, far exceeding their opponents in both categories.
SiPons Duo Falls Short in Semis Berth
Meanwhile, fan favorites Rondina and Pons thrilled the home crowd with a spirited run in their first beach volleyball tournament after shifting back from indoor play. The seasoned duo swept Vanuatu’s 2023 Australian Beach Tour champions Sherysyn Toko and Majabelle Lawac, 21-16, 21-17, then outlasted the Dutch pair of Prins and Driessen in the Round of 16. However, their dream return came to an end in the quarterfinals, where they bowed to Romania’s Beata Vaida and Francesca Ioana Alupei in a tightly fought 21-18, 19-21, 12-15 loss.
Despite falling short of the semifinals, Pons remained upbeat, saying the performance was promising considering their limited preparation time. Rondina, though visibly frustrated with some missed shots, vowed to use the tournament as a launchpad for a deeper campaign at the Southeast Asian Games later this year in Bangkok.
Other local pairs weren’t as fortunate. Progella and Pagara saw their own quarterfinal bid cut short after falling to New Zealand’s Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald, 17-21, 14-21 — the same Kiwi duo that finished second at the recent AVC Beach Tour Nuvali Open. Meanwhile, the pairs of Sunnie Kalani Villapando and Jen Gaviola, and Alexa Polidario with Dij Rodriguez, also bowed out earlier in the day after hard-fought matches against Japanese and Latvian opponents, respectively.
Filipina Spirit Acknowledged
Still, the spirited efforts of the Filipino athletes drew praise from Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who reaffirmed support for the national beach volleyball program. Suzara, also president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and FIVB executive vice president, noted that the PNVF plans to send Rondina, Pons, and other members of the pool to tournaments in Europe as part of their campaign to qualify for the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide this November. With every serve, block, and dive, the Filipina athletes proved they belong on the international stage — and their journey, it seems, is just beginning.
