Finding the faith

Jovelyn Gonzaga never expected to bag the gold with Sisi Rondina at the Beach Pro Tour Futures in Subic last weekend. The pair had less than two weeks of practice – 10 days to be exact – and it was a grind for the Army sergeant to get back into shape after struggling with water in the knee. Gonzaga was a late sub for Bernadeth Pons who was down with a shoulder injury but didn’t hesitate to answer the call from PNVF president Tats Suzara.

Gonzaga said before the start of the competition, she asked herself if there was a purpose in continuing to play beach volleyball. She called her various stints in the sport a “roller coaster ride.” Gonzaga disclosed that if things didn’t work out, she would beg off totally from the game and focus on something else. “Umalis ako, bumalik, tinanggal, bumalik uli, nawala ako at bumalik na naman,” she said on SEAG Live last Monday. “Akala ko kami ni Dij (Rodriguez) ang magka-partner pero sinama ako kay Sisi.” Gonzaga took a bronze with Rodriguez at the 2021 SEA Games while Rondina and Pons combined for a pair of bronzes in the 2019 and 2021 editions.

In her moments of doubt, Gonzaga found refuge in Sergeant Andrico Mahilum’s advice. Mahilum had just won the Altitude Obstacle Course Races world title at the Mount Everest Basecamp in Nepal. “Sabi ni Sergeant Mahilum, submit myself to the Lord,” she said. “Kung kulang ang resources, support at preparation, have faith. Do your best sa training at iwanan mo kay Lord ang lahat.” Gonzaga’s reawakening signaled a fresh beginning and she went out to compete fearlessly.

It was a strange partnership with Rondina. Gonzaga revealed that they’re different in many ways off the court, like she sleeps with lights off and no noise while Rondina prefers the lights on with music.  But they managed to compromise somehow. On the court, they blended like two peas in a pod. In Subic, the tandem compensated for each other, blocking, attacking and defending alternately depending on who had the fresher legs. The road to gold wasn’t smooth at all. In the group stage, Rondina and Gonzaga were untouchable, blasting Canada’s Darby Dunn and Olivia Furlan, 21-19, 21-18 and the Czech Republic’s Valerie Dvronikova and Anna Pospisilova, 21-14, 21-16. But it was a grind starting the quarters where they came back from a set down to beat Japan’s Ericka Habaguchi and Saki Maruyama, 18-21, 21-12, 15-7. In the semis, they again recovered from a first set loss to oust Israel’s Yahli Ashush and Anita Dave, 20-22, 21-8, 17-15. The finals was another comeback affair as Rondina and Gonzaga tripped Rodriguez and Jen Eslapor, 22-24, 21-12, 15-12. When it was over, Gonzaga broke down in tears. She’s called the Bionic Ilongga after surviving ruptures in her ACL, MCL and meniscus transitioning from indoor to beach and back but the Guimaras native has proved herself repeatedly on the court as a champion with a strong heart and a stronger faith.