Sisi Rondina barely loses in beach volleyball. In fact, the Cebuana carries a 91.1 percent career winning rate in the UAAP Beach Volleyball elimination round.
On Friday, Rondina and rookie partner Babylove Barbon can complete a sweep of the Season 81 elimination round. The graduating Rondina is on track for her 32nd elims win in 35 outings. It would also mark the fourth time UST clinched an outright Finals seat with Rondina in tow.
Still far from over with her UAAP career, as she still has the indoor tournament on February, Rondina could not help but think about her legacy on the sand.
Aside from the dominant record, Rondina’s beach volleyball run is made more remarkable by the Cebuana’s sheer durability and adaptability.
Rondina is one of the rare players to compete in both beach and indoor volleyball in each of her five playing years. She has also played with four different partners.
“Kung manalo man, ang iniisip ko is ‘yung pag-exit ko din talaga and for UST na walang sawang sumporta sa amin. Siyempre, lahat naman ‘to ginagawa namin for our school,” said the fiery 21-year old.
“Bonus na lang na nadadala ‘yung pangalan namin and nagkaka-legacy. Kung gusto namin na maganda ‘yung exit namin, start here na kami.”
So far, Rondina and Barbon have been miles ahead of the competition, winning all of their matches via a sweep. With FEU’s Ivana Agudo and Sheena Gallentes, UST’s last opponents, sporting a measly 1-4 record, it’s safe to bet on that trend continuing.
“Iniisip lang namin kung ano ‘yung goal namin; manalo o matalo man basta we did our best, that’s what matters eh. Hindi na namin iniisip ‘yung resulta masyado,” added Rondina.
“Sinasabi ko sa kanya (Barbon) kung gusto mo maganda ‘yung outcome ng paghihirap natin, bakit hindi natin ituloy ‘to. Ang maganda sa kanya is nagpapadala kahit parang gigil ako maglaro. Nahihirapan akong dalhin pero maganda sa kanya is palaban siya. Siguro, ‘yung pag-intindi sa isa’t isa aayusin pa namin.”
