SISI Rondina played down MVP chants on Wednesday, saying her focus is on winning a UAAP championship for University of Santo Tomas in her final playing year.
Roaring UST fans chanted ‘MVP! MVP! MVP!’ each time Rondina stood on the service line during the Tigresses' playoff against De La Salle for the No. 2 seed in the UAAP Final Four at The Arena in San Juan City.
The graduating team captain scored 29 points to lead the Tigresses to a 25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19 win and twice-to-beat advantage heading into the Final Four after finishing No.2 for the first time in eight years.
But Rondina insisted the MVP race is not on her mind.
“They’re just happy, 'yun lang,” Rondina said of the UST fans.
The 5-foot-6 outside hitter led the league in scoring for the second straight season with 18.5 points per game, ahead of rookie teammate Eya Laure (16.43 points per match). She was the second best spiker in the league with a 33.38 percent success rate just behind Laure (36.90%), and ninth in digging with 3.98 digs per set.
Despite a strong chance of winning the MVP plum, Rondina said that's not her goal.
“Wala siya (sa isip ko). Sabi ko nga kay coach, fourth year pa lang ako sinabi niya sa akin yung gusto namin sa team, mag-finals kami. Sabi ko nga sige coach tulungan tayo,” Rondina said. “Every time na pumupumupunta ako sa game, yun lang (ang nasa isip ko): manalo at magtiwala lang na kaya namin.”
Rondina didn’t only lead her team on offense in their huge win over La Salle, she also made her teammates believe that they can beat the defending champions.
“Before mag-start ang game hinuddle ko ang mga bata sabi ko, ‘Atin ‘to.’ Lahat ng positive sinabi ko na ang sobrang responsive ng mga bata and nandoon talaga ang willingness nila na manalo lalong lalo na si Eya na nandyan talaga para tumulong. We got each other’s back,” the Cebuana said.
But the work is not yet done as the Tigresses anticipate a tougher stand by the Lady Spikers heading to their Final Four match on Sunday.
“Aalagaan namin yung pagkakataon na yun,” Rondina said. “Sabi ko nga ako na yung magli-lead sa teammates ko and lahat-lahat gagawin ko maitaas lang namin yung team. Alam ko naman nandyan lahat sila."
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