Rondina-Gervacio rips Americans; Quilaio, Catubay also advance

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ Sisi Rondina and Dzi Gervacio created a huge impact on their debut in the FIVB World Tour, toppling American duo Lindsey Fuller and Kaley Melville, 21-12, 21-16, to lead the advance of two entries from the host nation into the Round of 12 of the prestigious circuit’s Manila leg yesterday at Sands by the Bay.

Rondina and Gervacio offset their height disadvantage with smart plays, effectively throwing the taller opponents off balanced with their well-angled lob and drop shots to lay the foundation to the milestone victory in women’s Pool D that virtually sent them to the next round.

Tagum’s Karen Quilaio and Lot Catubay also progressed over in Pool C after bouncing back from their morning 14-21, 11-21 loss to the Netherlands’ Katja Stam and Julia Wouters with a 21-13, 18-21, 15-11 disposal of Hong Kong’s Yuen Ting Chi and Au Yeung Wai Yan.

“We wanted to show the world that even though we’re vertically-challenged, we can keep in step with taller opponents,” said Rondina in Filipino after the reversal over USA.

Cheered on by the home crowd, the gutsy Pinay pair jumped the gun on Fuller and Melville and grabbed the game’s first five points en route to a 14-8 lead. The Americans closed the gap at 11-14 but Gervacio and Rondina countered with a 7-1 windup to take the first set.

The home side continued to bombard the US belles with loopers in the second and took a 19-11 cushion then held tough to close it out.

“We dictated the pace,” said Gervacio.

The two later pushed Spanish third seeds Paula Soria and Maria Belen Carro to the limit before conceding a 20-22, 21-23 defeat for a 1-1 card. 

The rest of the Phl ladies – DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia in Pool A and Charo Soriano and Bea Tan in Pool B – took the exits after dropping their second matches.