Rondina-Pons pair sweeps pool play

SANTA ANA, Cagayan, Philippines – Creamline 1’s Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made quick work of Black Mamba Army 2’s Jem Gutierrez and Audrey Paran, 21-8, 21-5, to top Pool A in the BVR on Tour second leg yesterday here.

The Rondina-Pons tandem swept all four matches in pool play to remain on course for a possible second straight championship in the bubble event.

Rondina and Pons beat Delimondo’s MJ Ebro and Bianca Lizares in straight-sets, 21-8, 21-10, in the morning session.

Meanwhile, Creamline 2’s Dij Rodriguez and Dzi Gervacio moved closer to a sweep in Pool B by trouncing Toyota Tuguegarao’s Nicole Tiamzon and Jho Maraguinot, 21-13, 21-19.

The Cool Smashers’ second team, third placers in the first leg, are also unbeaten in four matches.

Rodriguez and Gervacio opened the day with a 21-12, 21-14 romp of Eastern Perlas Spikers’ Mich Morente and Jules Samonte.

PLDT’s Ella and Iza Viray moved to second place in Pool B at 3-1 following a 21-7, 21-18 victory over Toyota Tugegarao’s Nicole Tiamzon and Jho Maraguinot and 21-9, 21-16 tripping of Sta. Lucia 2’s Bang Pineda and Chay Troncoso.

Pineda and Troncoso, who roared back from a 0-5 deficit in the deciding set to outlast Black Mamba Army 1’s Nene Bautista and Jeannie delos Reyes, 19-21, 21-13, 15-10, fell to 2-2 card.

Bautista and Delos Reyes rebounded in the afternoon with a 21-18, 21-11 win over Morente and Samonte to also post a 2-2 slate.

Sta. Lucia 1’s Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontaño used a strong 9-2 third set start en route to a 21-18, 16-21, 15-10 victory over Biogenic’s Roma Joy Doromal and Heather Guino-o to raise their record to 2-1 in Pool A in second spot.

Doromal and Guino-o failed to follow up their 21-16, 21-18 victory over Gutierrez and Paran to drop to 1-2 in a tie with Ebro and Lizares in third place.

In men’s action, Creamline 1’s Jude Garcia and Krung Arbasto, also vying for a back-to-back title romp, swept DeliRush 2’s Nichol Jundana and Jeffer Guerrero, 21-14, 21-10 and Army 1’s Joel Villonson and Randy Fallorina, 21-10, 21-11, to stay perfect in three Pool B matches.

EVI Construction’s Doy Barrica and KR Guzman kept within reach of the first leg champions following a 21-9, 21-15 win over Orchard Fresh’s Rhenze Hu and Benjaylo Labide, and a 21-15, 21-15 victory over Jundana and Guerrero for a 3-1 slate.

Tuguegarao’s James Pecaña and AJ Pareja got back at first leg tormentor Negros Occidental Beach Volleyball Club’s Deanne Neil de Pedro and Eljhay Ronquillo, 21-17, 14-21, 15-11, and later took the Pool A lead at 3-0 following a 24-26, 21-13, 15-11 decision of DeliRush 1’s Evan Laraya and Joven Camaganakan.

De Pedro and Ronquillo bounced back with a 18-21, 25-23, 15-12 victory over Creamline 2’s Ranran Abdilla and Romnick Rico for a 2-1 slate.

Abdilla and Rico, who barged into the win column following a 21-19, 21-19 victory over Army 2’s Jason Uy and Josh Barrica, slipped to 1-3.

The BVR on Tour Santa Ana is sponsored by Puso Pilipinas, Smart Sports, Santa Ana LGU, Tuguegarao LGU, Board Member Aj Ponce, Congressman Junjun Nolasco, TikTok Phlippines, EVI Construction, Savepoint Plus, Xentro Mall, Toyota Tuguegarao, Ibuprofen Paracetamol Alaxan FR, Summit Natural Drinking Water, Enervon and Enervon Activ, and supported by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

For updates regarding the Santa Ana leg, please follow BVR’s social media accounts.

The games will be streamed live on the Puso Pilipinas and Smart Sports Facebook pages and YouTube channels.  The streaming is global so BVR fans from other countries can watch as well.

For updates regarding the Santa Ana leg, please follow BVR’s social media accounts.

The remaining pool matches will be held starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, to be followed by the quarterfinals starting at 1 p.m.