THREE Philippine women’s pairs led by Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons and two men’s tandems target spots in the main draw in the qualification matches for the Volleyball World 2025 Beach Pro Tour Challenge on Wednesday at the Nuvali Sands Court by the Ayala Land in the City of Santa Rosa in Laguna.
Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Varga and Edwin Tolentino, and Larry John Francisco kick off Alas Pilipinas’ campaign against foreign opponents at 9 a.m., as seeded athletes James Buytrago and Ran Abdilla drew a bye in the qualification round.
“It’s good that we are seeded in this event and we do not need to play in the qualification that will keep us fresh in the main draw,” said Buytrago, who, along with Abadilla clinched a bronze medal in the Cambodia 2023 Southeast Asian Games.
The specific pairings will be known only after the preliminary inquiry, which was scheduled late afternoon Tuesday.
Buytrago and Abdilla are one of the 24 men’s teams seeded in the 32-pair main draw that starts Thursday.
“We’re hoping to improve on our quarterfinal finish in last year’s BPT, although it will not be easy,” added Buytrago, as he acknowledged the rigorous training they’ve been getting under Brazilian coach Joao Luciano Simao Barbosa.
“I’ll be playing with an injured index finger, so we’ll just give our best,” he said.
Jenny Gaviola and Alexa Polidario, Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez and Kly Orillaneda and Gen Eslapor will also plunge into action in the qualifiers of the FIVB Volleyball World tournament hosted by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.
The popular tandem of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, ranked 137th in the world, will see action on Thursday in the main draw.
World’s No. 6 Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson of Sweden are the men defending their champions in the competition that drew 65 men’s pairs from 25 nations and 46 women’s duos from 15 countries.
