The beach volleyball standout hasn’t played indoors in the last four years.
Coming off yet another PVL championship after winning the All-Filipino Conference last March, the Creamline Cool Smashers strengthened their roster even further by acquiring veteran outside hitter Bernadeth Pons. The FEU Tamaraws product is bound to become an important piece for the ladies in pink, considering she’s been a standout playing the sport in various stages.
For the last few years, Pons has been a full-time beach volleyball player both in the pro ranks and as a member of the national team, alongside Sisi Rondina who’s now a member of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans. But as good as the 26-year-old spiker is, she recognizes that a crucial adjustment period will be dealt with in her return to indoor volleyball.
“’Yung utak ko talaga, beterano ako. Pero nanibago lang ako kasi four years ako na nawala sa indoor pero nandoon pa rin ‘yung mind ko,” Pons divulged as she guested on One Sports' The Game on Wednesday.
But the veteran that she is, the pride of Talisay, Negros Occidental took it upon herself to come into her new squad’s training camp well-prepared.
“Before ako nag-training sa Creamline, nag-review rin ako ng mga game ko before, kung paano ako maglaro. Binabalik ko lang din, pinapanood ko kung paano ‘yung Pons before sa indoor para ma-refresh lang din ako.”
According to her self-evaluation, it’ll take time before she gets her bearings back playing indoors. But her tone has a hint of confidence that suggests she’ll be able to recapture her old form, which is good news for Creamline.
“Tinatanong ko rin ‘yung sarili ko, ‘Kaya ko pa kaya ‘to?' Pero siyempre, alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko ‘yung gawin pero hindi agad-agad. So, I’m working on it, day to day.”
The Cool Smashers’ multitude of fans will have to wait and see if Pons can adjust in time for the upcoming PVL Invitational Conference.