SISI Rondina is amply rewarded after fulfilling her promise of bringing University of Sto. Tomas to greater heights in her swan song.
The graduating hitter brought the Tigresses to the Final Four for the second time in her storied five-year career with superb showings in UST’s two outings, enough to earn her a first-ever Chooks To Go-Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week.
Rondina edged out rookie Princess Robles of NU, DLSU freshman Jolina Dela Cruz and University of the East’s Judith Abil and Mean Mendrez for the weekly honors given by online, tabloid and broadsheet scribes covering the beat.
The 22-year-old open spiker exploded for 20 points on Wednesday in the Tigresses’ 25-21, 25-12, 26-24, win over University of the Philippines that put UST in a good position for a return stint to the Final Four after missing the cut last year.
Rondina hammered 17 of those points off attacks and added 15 digs and eight excellent receptions.
The four-time beach volleyball champion picked up from she left off four days after with a 21-point performance as the Tigresses dominated Far Eastern University, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, to validate their entry to the Final Four.
Rondina filled the stats sheet with 17 spikes, three aces and a kill block while showing her prowess on floor defense with 15 digs and 12 excellent receptions in the victory that kept Tigers in the running for a twice-to-beat advantage.
“Ang maganda kasi, sobrang responsible ng mga bata, nakikinig sila at nagtutulungan kami kaya ito ang bunga ng lahat ng set plays namin, lumalabas,” said Rondina. “Isa lang masasabi ko kanina, sobrang focused ‘yung paglaro namin kanina.”
The Tigresses entered the FEU match already assured of a semis seat after also-ran National University ousted the Lady Maroons from the Final Four contention. But it didn’t distract Rondina and the rest of UST from their focus of building momentum heading to the postseason wars.
The Espana-based squad (9-4) can snatch a twice-to-beat spot if it hurdles the Lady Bulldogs on April 27 and three-time defending champion De La Salle (9-3) drops its remaining game.
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