SUBIC — Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga beat Genesa Jane “Jen” Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez, 22-24, 21-12, 15-12, in a three-set women’s final of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures that didn’t only reveal a bright future for Philippine beach volleyball but also the protagonists’ resiliency against injury.
Rondina felt cramps creeping from her right leg toward her thigh in the entire match and Eslapor needed a five-minute medical timeout in the second set to suppress cramps that rose from her thighs to her abdomen.
But both sides hung tough with Eslapor coming off the medical timeout with four consecutive service aces to push her team closer to Rondina’s squad, 10-12, in the decider.
But Rondina, who was often seen pulling the toes of her right foot upwards to avoid cramps, endured and nailed the match’s last three points for the title.
“We were tired. After having gone through the competition, the pressure and the strong opposition,” said Rondina, the most decorated among the four finalists after he final that drew a jampacked crowd at the Subic Bay Sand Court.
“I could hardly jump, even during our pre-final training.”
Relief was written all over Rondina and Gonzaga, who, like their final victims, were in a hurry to head home later Sunday.
All four had flights booked — Rondina to Cebu, Rodriguez to Negros Occidental and Eslapor to Cagayan de Oro — for Sunday night at Manila’s airport in anticipation of an early exit from the tournament.
“Honestly, we never expected this one, all of us,” said Gonzaga, who’s returning to Manila to attend to personal matters — especially her obligations at the Philippine Army — also on Sunday night.
“No party for us,” both said.
A big crowd came to see the final but which team they rooted for was hardly audible. They appreciated both sides who regaled their fans with exciting exchanges and daredevil dives for errant balls.
“Credit to them (Eslapor-Rodriguez pair), they are also good and strong,” said Gonzaga, adding she could now relax and get that deep sleep she was deprived of heading into the tournament.
Eslapor and Rodriguez played with less pressure, too, and treated the final like a mere training session.
“It’s all-Filipino so we went out there playing as if we were just training,” Rodriguez said.
“But yes, they gave us a good fight and we fought hard, too.”
Rondina and Gonzaga booted out Israel’s Yahli Ashush and Anita Dave, 20-22, 21-8, 17-15, while Eslapor and Rodriguez eliminated Japan’s Miyu Sakamoto and Mayu Sawame, 16-21, 28-26, 15-13, in the semifinals played Sunday morning.
