-1001.jpg)
When Bernadeth Pons took to the court at the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference, it was clear that her beach volleyball prowess had seamlessly translated into indoor success.
On a remarkable Wednesday night at the packed Philsports Arena, Pons proved her versatility and dominance by securing two prestigious awards: the PVL Reinforced Conference MVP and the Finals MVP.
Pons' journey back to indoor volleyball has been nothing short of extraordinary. After dedicating significant time to beach volleyball, Pons made her return to the indoor scene last year. She joined the Creamline Cool Smashers during the 2023 Invitationals but initially had to bide her time on the bench due to the team's formidable lineup.
The 27-year-old outside spiker has achieved considerable success in beach volleyball, both locally and internationally, alongside her partner Sisi Rondina. Rondina’s breakthrough in the PVL came in the form of the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference MVP award. Their joint success on the sands has undoubtedly contributed to their indoor achievements.
Reflecting on their accomplishments, Pons emphasized how their beach volleyball experiences have been integral to their current success.
“Sobrang nakakaproud din talaga lalo na kasi malaking bagay din talaga yung mga international kahit beach volleyball yun,” Pons shared. “Kasi sobra mga nakakalaban namin doon sa beach, hindi basta basta, may mga nakalaban kaming Olympians, mga high caliber din talaga so every game dami talaga natutunan kahit di namin naipanalo lahat pero yung lesson and experience yun yung baon namin dito sa indoor.”
Pons’ contributions throughout the MVP conference were multi-faceted. Offensively, she ranked as the second-best local scorer with an impressive 147 points. However, it was her defensive skills that truly set her apart. She excelled in reception, ranking second with a 45.61 percent efficiency rate, and demonstrated her digging prowess by ranking sixth with an average of 3.06 digs per set.
This defensive strength mirrors the success of her beach volleyball partner Rondina, who similarly excelled in the 2023 Second AFC. Rondina led in scoring with 236 points and was also notable in defense, ranking second in reception with a 38.67 percent efficiency rate and sixth in digging with 2.33 per set. Interestingly, these statistics match Pons' own rankings in these areas.
Pons expressed her pride in Rondina’s achievements and future potential.
“Sobrang proud din ako sa mga naachieve niya and maaachieve niya pa,” she remarked about Rondina, her good friend.
