Two bronze medals in beach volleyball and a tough, fighting and promising stand put up in volleyball and Rebisco stood firm to continuing its relentless support to the sport.
“Let’s look forward to more volleyball, more victories and more participation in Southeast Asian, Asian and world stages in the years to come,” Rebisco Group Vice Chairman Jonathan Ng told members of the national team—athletes and officials—who saw action in the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian during a recent thanksgiving party at the Joy Nostalg Hotel and Suites in Mandaluyong City.
The beach volleyball duos of Bernadeth Pons-Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga-Dij Rodriguez in the women’s class and Jude Garcia-Krung Arbastos and Jaron Requinton-Ranran Abdilla in the men’s contest retained their SEA Games bronze medal the country first bagged in the 30th SEA Games in Subic in 2019.
Although the men and women volleyball squads missed the podium in Vietnam, the athletes displayed potential to improve further amid difficulties in training and preparation because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Ng said the campaign yields positive goals and that Rebisco’s thankful to the athletes and officials for putting up a fight in the SEA Games.
“There is definitely much to be grateful for—the great health and well-being of our national team members, our volleyball community and especially the two bronze medals garnered in this year’s SEA Games by both the men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams,” Ng said.
Ng added: “We are grateful for each other and the common understanding and desire to raise the level of competition and skill level of our athletes. Our national teams just need more time and international tournament exposure to be more cohesive.”
Besides Ng and the national team members, Rebisco Business Unit Head Noric Ng and Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) President Ramon “Tats” Suzara and Secretary General Donald Caringal also graced the occasion.
“Rebisco is grateful that the PNVF and the volleyball community is so supportive and everyone is working to uplift the sport so we can get better,” Noric Ng said. “We know how challenging it has been for everyone to work and train against all odds because of the pandemic. Fortunately, things are getting better but we shouldn’t forget what we went through to get where we are today. It makes all the triumphs that much sweeter.”