PH beach volleyballs capture 2nd gold

THE Philippine women’s team secured its second win in the 31st SEA Games beach volleyball after overwhelming Malaysia on Monday at the Tuan Chau Beach, Quang Ninh.

Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made short work of Farwizah Aina Ahmad Nizar and Maegan Beh Jia Yin, 21-11, 21-9, while Jovelyn Gonzaga and Dij Rodriguez handily beat Foo Sin Xi and Sin Sing Yee, 21-14, 21-9.

Up next for the Philippines is 2019 silver medalist Indonesia, composed of Dhita Juliana and Putu Utami, and Martha Rahawarin and Nur Atika Sari, at 3:45 p.m. (Manila time) on Tuesday.

After bowing to defending champion Thailand on Sunday, Indonesia bounced back by beating Singapore, 2-0, to even its record to 1-1 and tie host Vietnam.

Like the Filipinas, bronze medalists in the 2019 edition, the Thais are also perfect in two contests after defeating the Vietnamese, 2-0.

The women’s competition is a single-round robin, where the Philippines needs to finish at least in the top two to make it to the gold medal match. If they finish in third or fourth after the single-round robin, the Filipinas will play in the bronze medal match.

In the men’s division, the Philippines will play Cambodia at 10:45 a.m. (Manila time) on Tuesday.

The men’s competition is pool play, where the Philippines needs to finish in top two in Pool A to advance to the semifinals. /