Clancy, Fejes Deny Rondina, Pons Gold as Philippine Pair Settles for Silver in Pingtung Open

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons fell just short of a historic title after losing to Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Stefanie Fejes, 19-21, 12-21, in the women’s final of the 2026 AVC Beach Pro Tour Pingtung Open on Sunday.

Hours before Alas Pilipinas’ five-set defeat to Australia in the AVC Women’s Cup in Candon, the Philippine beach volleyball duo fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to the experience and composure of the Australian pair in the championship match.

Rondina and Pons came close to stealing the opening set, trimming a 19-20 deficit before a costly service error from Pons handed Clancy and Fejes the decisive point.

The Australians took full control in the second set, racing to a 7-1 start and maintaining their dominance to secure the gold medal.

Despite the loss, Rondina and Pons still made history by becoming the first Philippine women’s beach volleyball pair to reach an AVC-level final, capping a breakthrough run on the continental stage.

The reigning Southeast Asian Games champions won five straight matches en route to the final, highlighting their impressive consistency throughout the tournament.

They booked their championship berth after edging Thailand’s Kongphopsarutawadee Worapeerachayakorn and Taravadee Naraphonrapat, 21-17, 26-24, in a tightly contested semifinal on Saturday.

Earlier in the knockout stage, the Filipinas pulled off a major upset by defeating Australia’s top-seeded duo Jasmine Fleming and Elizabeth Alchin, 21-18, 33-31, in a dramatic quarterfinal clash.

Rondina and Pons also swept through Pool F before eliminating Hong Kong’s Wong Man Ching and Tsang Ngok Ling, 21-10, 21-16, in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ other two women’s pairs saw their campaigns end in the Round of 16 despite topping their respective groups. Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez fell to New Zealand’s Grace Tiplady and Lani Rawle, 21-15, 21-18, while Khy Progella and Sofiah Pagara were edged by Japan’s Takemi Nishibori and Riko Tsujimura, 9-21, 27-25, 10-15.