Rondina-Pons through to quarterfinals

MANILA, Philippines — When Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons set their minds into something, expect them to go all out to achieve it.

The Southeast Asian Games gold medal-winning Philippine pair were nothing but relentless in taking down Aussies Jolie Du Plessis and Tara Phillips, 21-12, 21-18, yesterday to barge into the quarterfinals of the FIVB Beach Pro Tour in Gwangalli, South Korea.

There, they joined fellow Filipinas Sofia Pagara and Khy Progella, who made it there first the day before after sweeping Pool C in four matches that was capped by a 16-21, 21-17, 15-9 upset of Americans Katie Horton and Christy Boulware.

Rondina and Pons were battling Americans Alyssa Keller and Tiffany Svenssohn while the Pagara-Progella duo was tackling Japanese Paurine Emiri Oto and Takemi Nishibori in the quarters as of presstime.

While Pagara and Progella made it to the playoff phase first, Rondina and Pons had to overcome a stinging 21-16, 21-19 defeat to Brazilians Geovania de Lima and Emmanuely Pereira Cardoso Friday night.

But it didn’t dampen the spirit of Rondina and Pons, who willed their way straight to the quarters and a potential shot at a medal.

This tournament serves as part of the preparation for next month’s Asian Games in Aichi, Japan for Rondina and Pons, who are hoping for a podium finish there.