LIKE the rest of the Filipino athletes in the 30th Southeast Asian Games, members of the beach volleyball team are counting on home-court advantage as they vie for the gold medal.
The Philippines last won a medal in women’s beach volley in the 2005 Manila SEA Games—a bronze courtesy of the lovely pair of Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua.
This year, the women’s team, composed of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons, and Dzi Gervacio and Floremel Rodriguez, is hoping to land in the podium.
The men’s team of Edmar Bonono and Jude Garcia, and Anthony Arbasto and James Buytrago is also hoping for the best.
“With all the support we received, our teams are hoping to get far in this SEA Games,” Team Manager Cha Soriano told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Manila. She cited the Philippine Sports Commission and Rebisco as their biggest supporters.
Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) Training Director Peter Cayco also appeared in the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., along with coaches Paul John Doloiras and Jason Gabales, and physical therapists Faye Acordon and Carl Dimaculangan.
Cayco said that as host, the Philippines is allowed to field two pairs in each division.
Beach volleyball offers two gold medals this year, and will be staged from November 29 to December 6 in Subic. Prior to that, the LVPI will stage the Rebisco International beach volley competition on from November 15 to 17 at Mall of Asia’s Sands by the Bay.
“We want our players to be in Subic early. We want our players to familiarize themselves with the viscosity [thickness and consistency] of the sand in the actual venue. That should give us the home court advantage,” Cayco said.
Vying in the final tune-up tournament for the SEA Games are New Zealand, Hong Kong, Palau and Thailand, the SEA Games favorite.
“It will boil down to our commitment and mindset. But we worked very hard in training,” said Rondina, the energetic indoor volley star who has agreed to suit up for the beach volley team in this SEA Games.