IT’S been a year of opportunity for Sisi Rondina as she took her high-flying act to the PVL Finals and the international stage with Alas Pilipinas.
The 5-foot-6 Cebuana star led Choco Mucho’s bridesmaid finish to sister team and Grand Slam-winner Creamline in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference back in May.
READ: Brooke Van Sickle always in awe of fellow MVP Sisi Rondina
Her three-month grind in the PVL would be followed by a last-minute offer to represent the country as part of the newly-branded Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball team.
Fatigue aside, the former PVL MVP heeded the nation’s call of duty and went on to make history as their AVC Challenge Cup bronze medal on home soil marked the Philippines’ first podium finish in an Asian tournament in 63 years.
Such a hectic schedule saw no end as the PVL resumed its 2024 season with the Reinforced Conference in July.
Rondina sat out import-laden play, not because she’d be taking a well-deserved break, but because of national team duties.
Alas took part in a two-week Japan training camp en route to back-to-back bronze medal runs in both legs of the 2024 Southeast Asia (SEA) V.League in Indonesia and Thailand.
Sisi's fuel? Commitment
Now back for the Flying Titans in the PVL’s longest conference yet, with five months of action to come, Rondina admitted how her busy stretch took a toll on her body as she had to play through lingering knee issues.
Being the fighter she’s always been, the Choco Mucho captain made it clear that nothing would ever outweigh her dedication to her craft.
“Personally, nag-suffer din ako sa knees ko, pero wino-work ko na makabalik agad. Hindi naman ‘yun rason [o excuse], but I think it’s the commitment naman din sa pagiging pro and siyempre sa national team,” said Rondina.
“Tanggap lang nang tanggap and trabaho lang nang trabaho.”
But how did Rondina overcome her fatigue-induced battles? By taking the break she needed and longed for, then ‘overloading’ once she returned to training.
“Ang ginagawa ko lang ngayon, nag-o-overload ako ngayon sa mga kailangan kong i-overload [na skills sa training]. Siyempre, ta-tiyagain ko hanggang makuha ko ulit yung rhythm kasi I think pang-limang week ko pa lang nanakabalik sa training and sa laro.
“Nagpahinga talaga ako ng one month or mga one month and a half kahit nahihirapan ako, pero still, binabalik ko siya sa training.”
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