By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Bernadeth Pons is thrilled with the opportunity to represent the country through indoor volleyball with the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Champions League.

According to Pons, she is happy with this rare chance before she returns to the Alas Pilipinas national women’s beach volleyball team, which will prepare for the Southeast Asian Games later this year.

“Sobrang grateful ako kasi ito ‘yung first ko na mag-represent ng country sa indoor,” Pons said.

“And syempre kasama ko pa ‘yung Creamline team, so sobrang ine-enjoy ko lang talaga ‘yung opportunity and ‘yung moment na maglaro ngayon,” she added.

However, Pons said she sees similarities in representing the country, whether in indoor or in beach volleyball, as her opponents are foreigners.

“Siguro kasi syempre international ito, international din ‘yung mga kalaban. Siguro kahit sino talaga ‘yung kaharap mo — malaki man sila, maliit man sila, same lang naman kami ng game — volleyball,” Pons said.

“Pare-parehas naman kaming nagte-training. So dapat … magpakita ka ng tapang palagi kahit sino ‘yung kaharap mo,” the former Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws star added.

Pons finished with four points, all coming from attacks, during the Cool Smashers’ 25-16, 25-17, 25-17 straight-set victory over Zhetysu VC of Kazakhstan on Monday evening, April 21, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City./ASC, WDJ