Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo battled it out for seventh place in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference on Saturday with the Flying Titans coming out on top in straight sets.
This game also marked the first time that former University of Santo Tomas standouts Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure face off on the court.
Aside from the two superstars, also previous Golden Tigresses that played together in their college days were Crossovers EJ Laure and Imee Hernandez and Flying Titan Caitlin Viray.
Rondina, senior player to Eya and Hernandez, was proud to see former UST players to take on different paths in the PVL.
“Parang transition lang noon sa UST. Nakakatuwa kasi nakikita namin yung mga kasama namin na nag-grow sa kanilang team, yung maturity nila sa paglalaro,” said Rondina.
“Parang college lang din. Bumabalik. Syempre nakakamiss dati magkakasama kami sa loob ng court ngayon magkakalaban na kami so ang saya lang kasi may kanya kanya na kaming path,” added Viray.
Then-senior Rondina and then-rookie Eya joined hands back in UAAP Season 81 to lead the Tigresses to a silver finish, falling just short of the crown after folding to Ateneo de Manila University in three games.
Laure made the jump to PVL after Season 85 just last May, while Rondina returned to indoor play after focusing on beach volleyball the past four years.
Having been teammates before, Laure shared that there is still some familiarity left in the gameplay of Rondina and Viray.
“Masaya kasi parehas kami na liga pero magkaiba man kami ng team nandoon pa din yung ‘ah dito niya yan dadalhin for sure’ may ganoong feeling. Masaya ako para sa kanila and masaya ako na ka-teammate ko pa din yung ate ko at nandyan si Imee. Healthy competition naman,” said the younger Laure.
