By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Sisi Rondina and Dij Rodriguez captured the women’s title in the Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) On Tour Sipalay Open after defeating Kat Epa and Kizil Quijote of National University (NU) – DutchBoy, 19-21, 21-13, 15-6, at Poblacion Beach in Negros Occidental on Sunday, May 10.

The newly formed tandem completed a five-match sweep of the tournament, overcoming a slow start in the finals before dominating the last two sets against Epa and Quijote.

Rondina and Rodriguez earlier survived a tough semifinal clash against Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Sunny Villapando and Gen Eslapor, 21-15, 11-21, 15-12, to advance to the championship round.

The title was Rondina’s sixth BVR On Tour crown and Rodriguez’s fourth.

Epa and Quijote reached the finals after rallying past Beach Volleyball Manila’s Kly Orillaneda and Euri Eslapor, 19-21, 21-16, 15-10, in the semifinals.

Villapando and Gen Eslapor settled for the bronze medal after beating Orillaneda and Euri Eslapor, 21-15, 21-16.

In the men’s division, Alas Pilipinas standouts Ranran Abdilla and Ronniel Rosales claimed the championship by defeating Beach Volleyball Manila’s Edwin Tolentino and Lerry Francisco, 21-23, 21-18, 15-7.

Abdilla and Rosales bounced back after dropping the opening set and dominated the deciding frame to avenge their earlier loss to the same pair during the elimination round.

The victory marked the duo’s second BVR On Tour title following their triumph in the Nuvali Open last March.

Abdilla also secured his eighth BVR On Tour gold medal overall.

Abdilla and Rosales reached the finals after sweeping NU – DutchBoy’s Sky Gemarino and Alex Iraya, 21-16, 21-15, in the semifinals.

Tolentino and Francisco, meanwhile, edged University of Santo Tomas’ Dom Gabito and JM Lagaran, 21-19, 11-21, 16-14, to arrange the finals showdown.

Gabito and Lagaran later defeated Gemarino and Iraya, 21-18, 27-25, to secure third place./ASC, WDJ