Sisi Rondina will be making her return to the sands.
Rondina, a pivotal force in Alas Pilipinas’ breakout run last year, was not included in the 33-player pool for the indoor squad as she shifts her focus to earning a spot on the beach volleyball team for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.
“Personally, I told sir Tats (Suzara) na gusto ko talaga sa beach volleyball, hindi talaga sa indoor,” said the former PVL MVP. “Ayun, wala na rin akong nagawa kasi kulang na rin sa players eh. Finill in ko ‘yung mga kailangan i-fill in.”
The Choco Mucho ace shared that beach volleyball has always been special to her, as it was on the sands where she first made a name for herself.
“May espesyal talaga na place ‘yung beach volley sa’kin kasi doon ako nakilala, doon ako nagsimula,” Rondina said shared.
“Pumasok ako sa UST, beach volleyball ako kaya ‘yung mga tao rin na nakasama ko, ‘yung mga nagturo sa’kin, sobrang espesyal sa akin ‘yung beach volleyball. Sobrang excited ako to be back sa SEA Games beach volleyball.”
(C) PVL Images
Before her unforgettable run with the Golden Tigresses in UAAP Season 81, Rondina had already established herself as a force in collegiate beach volleyball, winning four championships and four Most Valuable Player awards in the seasons prior.
Rondina went on to lead the Philippines to bronze medals in the 2019 and 2022 SEA Games while also securing a gold medal in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour.
Her decision to return to beach volleyball, she said, was driven by a promise she made after the 2023 SEA Games, where the team fell short of the podium following consecutive bronze finishes.
“We promised and I promised na (nung 2023), kailangan natin maka-podium ulit. Promise ko ‘yun, so ifu-fulfill lang namin talaga. Siyempre ‘di ba alam naman natin ‘yung SEA Games every two years so ‘yung edad din namin (‘di na pabata), pero as long as kaya pa namin gagawin namin. Wala rin kasi talagang players kaya push kami talaga,” she shared.
In 2023, the pride of Compostela, Cebu returned to indoor action with Choco Mucho and eventually earned a spot with Alas Pilipinas.
The 5-foot-6 high-flying hitter played for Alas in the last national team window, helping the squad capture a historic bronze-medal finish in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup — the country’s first-ever podium finish at the continental level.
Rondina then aided the team’s back-to-back third-place campaigns in the Southeast Asia V.League to close out the window.
The former UAAP MVP is confident that despite her absence, Alas Pilipinas can sustain the momentum they built last year under the leadership of team captain Jia De Guzman and Brazilian head coach Jorge Souza De Brito.
“I think naman with the leadership of Ate Jia (De Guzman), and ‘yung lahat ng mga naiwan, I think they’re very ready and ang dami talagang makukuha pa (na bago),” said Rondina.
“Alam ko may mga ini-invite si Coach Jorge (De Brito), let’s trust them. Cheering for them talaga. Magkikita naman kami doon, siyempre ‘di ako mawawala sa cheering (team) sa SEA Games ng indoor (team).”)
