On any other team, Cherry Rondina would be the main gunner; the cog to a high-scoring offense.
On the Petron Blaze Spikers, however, the fiery Cebuana has a different role to play.
Petron boasts a deep lineup of wingers that not only includes Rondina, but also Bernadeth Pons, Ces Molina, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Mela Tunay, and Ivana Agudo.
The Blaze Spikers do not need Rondina to be scoring virtuoso like she was with UST in UAAP Season 80. Petron needs her to be instant offense incarnate.
This has been most apparent in Petron’s last two matches in the 2018 Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Invitational Cup, two wins that led to another Finals appearance for one of the country’s most succesful club teams.
Against F2 Logistics on tailend of their group stage, Rondina tallied 11 points in barely two sets of action, including six markers in the match-clinch fourth set. The 5-foot-6 spiker then totaled nine points in another quick tour of duty against Smart-Army in the semis, highlighted by three straight attacks that capped the match.
For an Most Valuable Player-caliber in the collegiate ranks, Rondina admittedly had trouble grasping her off-the-bench spark plug role. If volleyball had a usage rate stat, after all, Rondina would have probably have Westbrook-ian numbers.
She recalls their match against F2 Logistics. The frustration was still fresh on her mind as she remembers her uncharacteristic play during the second set.
When she got a second chance to revive the team’s offense in the fourth set, Rondina took full advantage.
“Actually, na-down ako. Medyo kinalaban ko ‘yung sarili ko noong second set. Sabi ko, ‘Oh my god, hindi ikaw to Sisi’,” the 21-year-old shared.
“Noong pinasok na ako, alam kong kailangan na ako kasi tambak na tambak na kami. Kailangan naming pumuntos. Isa ako sa pinagkakatiwalaan ni coach doon,” the incoming UST senior furthered.
“Naiiyak talaga ako, sobrang down ko talaga. ‘Yung feeling na isa ka sa mga nakatulong sa team, nakalma talaga ako. Wala akong ibang inisip kung hindi bumawi.”
Petron head coach Shaq Delos Santos loves Rondina’s relentlessness. The accomplished mentor urges the new-age Queen Tigress to channel her exhuberance into what the team needs.
“Sabi ko nga kay Sisi, alam kong gigil ka, alam kong gusto mong maglaro nang matagal. Pero sabi ko nga sa kanya, hindi ‘yung tagal ang usapan dito, ‘yung quality everytime na gagawa ka ng puntos,” he said.
“Wala siyang dapat ikahinayang doon. Pag kailangan namin ng puntos, alam naming mapagkakatiwalaan namin siya.”
Being part of a superteam, Rondina knows that there are certain sacrifices that need to be made. With opportunities scarce, Rondina is back to where she was when she first entered UST.
Each minute, each point Rondina earns.
“Napagdaanan ko na ‘yun. Pro-league naman ‘to. Kahit saan ka pumunta, alam mong may mas marunong pa sa’yo, may mga taong lamang sa’yo in some way,” she expressed.
“What I did is accept and wait for my time to shine.”
