THE volleyball grind never stops for Sisi Rondina as she’s set to begin a new chapter in her first-ever indoor stint for the Philippine national team in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women from May 22 to 29 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
For nearly a decade since her college years, Rondina has been a beach volleyball mainstay for both University of Sto. Tomas with 10 titles to her name and the Philippines with four international medals in her three-year nationals stint from 2019 to 2022.
READ: Jia de Guzman wears national colors in AVC Challenge Cup
She did have one overseas indoor volleyball stint as a member of club-based national team Foton Pilipinas in the 2016 AVC Club Championship.
From there, Rondina gave new life to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in her indoor volleyball comeback in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) in which she copped back-to-back silver-medal finishes, the 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference MVP nod and the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference 1st Best Outside Hitter plum nearly one year in with her new club.
Hours after Choco Mucho’s Game Two defeat to eventual champion Creamline, Rondina told SPIN.ph how the pursuit of parading Filipino talent diminishes doubts on whether she can go toe-to-toe in her forthcoming indoor volleyball debut for flag and country.
“For me naman, hindi na mawawala ‘yung they have more experience kaysa sa’kin or sa’min but most important lang sa’kin is paano namin ipapakita kung ano ang meron ang mga Pinoy,” said Rondina.
“Ako personally, napapatanong ako kung ano kaya kong ipakita (for national team sa indoor) pero sure akong full effort ako sa kung anumang ma-hehelp ko for the team,” she added.
Sisi's always ready
Preparations may be held to a minimum with just nine days before hostilities kick off on home soil, but Rondina is focused on recovering and keeping herself in top shape for what will be a big task ahead.
“Short break lang muna ako for recovery then sabak ulit. I-dday-to-day lang ang (pag-recover sa) fatigue para if ever, load management na lang,” Rondina said.
“Pero yun nga, trabaho ulit!”
Teaming up with the likes of Jia de Guzman and a yet-to-be announced PVL star-turned-national team member is also an enticing prospect Rondina looks forward to in just about a week’s time when her first indoor tournament for the Philippines goes underway.
“Excited ako sobra. Sana marami kaming matutunan and siyempre may mapakita kami togther with them and siyempre magandang resulta.”
A busy week awaits the Philippines when Group A action begins against Iran (May 22), India (May 24), Australia (May 25) and Chinese Taipei (May 26).
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