Sisi Rondina channeled her inner Gabi Guimaraes on Tuesday night, providing Choco Mucho with a significant boost in their historic win over sister team and defending champion Creamline in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
An avid fan of Guimaraes, Rondina shared that she browsed some highlights of the Brazilian volleyball star and closely studied her defensive tendencies and composure on the court before heading to the Philsports Arena.
It definitely proved wonders for the 5-foot-6 dynamo as she steadied the Flying Titans’ ship in the pivotal fifth set, leading her franchise to its first-ever victory over the Cool Smashers by way of a come-from-behind 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16 triumph.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Iniisip ko lang yung idol ko si Gabi [Guimaraes], yung sa Brazil kasi nanood ako sa mga highlights niya talaga bago pumunta rito. Kaya, ayun, tinitignan ko siya paano siya mag-receive, paano yung ano niya, paano yung composure niya,” said Rondina.
“Siguro, wala, parang sabi ko nalang sumanib ka, sumanib ka, please lang ganon, para lang mas maganahan ako. Ayun. Pero, trabaho talaga yun kanina. I mean, kung kaya ko mag-exaggerate na ibigay nang ibigay sa setter, gagawin ko. Pero ayun, thankful di masyadong stiff yung receive ko,” she added.
Aside from her superb passing display, Rondina provided the clutch hits as well, firing a searing cross-court attack that broke the 16-all deadlock in the final frame before following it up with an emphatic off-the-block hit to end Choco Mucho’s 12-game losing streak against Creamline.
The reigning PVL MVP fired a game-high 23 points on 21 attacks, one ace, and one block to go along with 14 excellent receptions in the game that saw the Flying Titans climb back from a 0-2 hole after a lethargic performance in the first two frames.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Syempre, all credits talaga sa teammates ko na pinagtrabahuhan talaga namin na maipanalo yung game na yun. ‘Yun, sabi nga ni Maddie (Madayag), finally, naka-isa rin sa Creamline,” said Rondina.
“Yung tiwala din talaga, yung nakita namin kanina, tiwala, puso, yung tipong hangga’t di pa bumababa yung bola, di pa natatapos. And ayun, wala eh. Kulang na kami sa tao talaga, yun na lang yung meron kami kaya ayun, credits din talaga sa mga pinasok ni coach na nagstep up talaga.”
