John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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SiPons

ABS-CBN News

Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, and Sunny Villapando could not hide their happiness as they halted eight-time champion Thailand&#x27;s dynastic reign in Southeast Asian Games women&#x27;s beach volleyball.During the finale, Team 1 Rondina and Pons dominated Thailand&#x27;s Kongphopsarutawadee Worapeerachayakorn and Taravadee Naraphornrapat, 21-17, 21-15, and the Team 2 of Rodriguez and Villapando defeated Tanarattha Udomchavee and Rumpaipruet Numwong in three sets, 21-13, 17-21, 15-6, to secure the gold.It was a longtime coming, but Rondina was just grateful as she and Pons—popularly known as &quot;SiPons&quot;—not just came back stronger after missing out on the podium last 2023 Cambodia Games, but surpassed their previous best of bronze medal finishes.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/12/19/seag-alas-pilipinas-stuns-thailand-for-breakthrough-beach-volley-gold-1617">READ: Alas Pilipinas stuns 8-time champ Thailand for breakthrough SEAG beach volley gold</a></div>The beach volley star out of University of Santo Tomas highlighted the team&#x27;s consistency that was a key point to dethroning the defending champs.&quot;Sobrang saya, lalong lalo na sa amin ni Pons—panglima na namin &#x27;to, and nakapag-gold din kami sa international [tournament]. And sobrang grateful, kasi may mga kasama kami, may mga teammates, mga coaches, management kami na alam naming nagtitiwala talaga sa amin,&quot; said Rondina right after their triumph.&quot;Ang ginawa lang talaga namin is magtrabaho. Sabi ko nga, magiging consistent lang kami, podium nandiyan lang. So I think consistency lang din talaga &#x27;yung napakita namin kaya kami naka-gold ngayon. And siyempre, &#x27;yung tiwala lang namin na makuha namin na makuha &#x27;yung gold,&quot; she added.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1766137454300WhatsApp Image 2025-12-19 at 4.37.27 PM.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>VICTORY FOR ALAS. Alas Pilipinas after pulling off a shocker against the mighty Thailand at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. POC MediaPons said she &quot;manifested&quot; for this triumph to happen, and even played that very scenario in her head.</div>&quot;Ako, sobrang grateful ko lang din talaga kay Lord, kasi minanifest ko talaga itong gold namin. Ilang beses ko rin na-imagine &#x27;yung moment na ganito— minsan naluluha na lang ako bigla kasi nai-imagine ko &#x27;yung moment na &#x27;to,&quot; said Pons. &quot;Totoo pala talaga &#x27;yung manifestation, pero siyempre may kasamang hard work.&quot;Rodriguez highlighted that she kept the faith that they would reach the SEA Games mountaintop. &quot;Finally, sinagot ni Lord &#x27;yung mga panalangin namin,&quot; she said.Villapando looked back at their journey, giving emphasis to the sacrifices they had to go through.&quot;I don&#x27;t think anybody sees, like you get to see this shiny moment but we all know the pain and the heartbreak that happened every single day at practice. And I think that this was a result of all of us sacrificing something.&quot;

Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, and Sunny Villapando could not hide their happiness as they halted eight-time champion Thailand's dynastic reign in Southeast Asian Games women's beach volleyball. #2025SEAGames

Sisi Rondina, Bernadeth Pons, Dij Rodriguez, and Sunny Villapando could not hide their happiness as they halted eight-time champion Thailand's dynastic reign in Southeast Asian Games women's beach volleyball. #2025SEAGames

SEAG: Dream come true for SiPons, Dij, Sunny as Alas Beach pierces through Thailand dominance

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SEAG: Dream come true for SiPons, Dij, Sunny as Alas Beach pierces through Thailand dominance

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 19, 2025 05:53 PM PHT

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abssports

volleyball

Southeast Asian Games

SEA Games 2025

beach volleyball

Alas Pilipinas

Thailand

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