CHONBURI, Thailand — Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons kicked off Alas Pilipinas’ redemption bid in Southeast Asian Games women’s beach volleyball in style as they earned a breakthrough 2-1 win over Indonesia along the Jomtien Beach here on Friday.

The prolific tandem hacked out a come-from-behind 15-21, 21-16, 18-16 victory over Indonesia’s Desi Ratnasari and Nur Sari in the deciding match for a rousing start in the round-robin preliminary round that features six nations.

“We’re so grateful to win our first game. Beating Indonesia was never easy,” Rondina said.

“Knowing Indonesia, they will not go down without putting up a fight. We haven’t beaten them in the SEA Games. So this is our first-ever win over the Indonesians.” 

As a duo, Rondina and Pons keyed the Philippines to bronze finishes in the 2019 Philippines and 2021 Vietnam editions, but they fell short of a third straight medal as they played with different partners in 2023 in Cambodia.

Back together as a pair, Rondina and Pons weaved the same magic of the past.

They won the opening match of the best-of-three affair with a 21-18, 18-21, 15-10 win over Ratnasari and Sari, although Indonesia dragged the Philippines to a decider after Bernadetta Shella Herdanti and Josephine Selvina nailed a 12-21, 21-19, 15-13 victory over Dij Rodriguez and Sunnie Villapando.

Bucking a first-set setback, Rondina and Pons beat Ratnasari and Sari again following a nervy finish that saw the two Filipinos make the right plays when it mattered most.