Small frame, big heart: New MVP Cherry Rondina proves height is just a number

MANILA, Philippines—Tell Cherry Rondina that size matters in volleyball and she will show you otherwise.

Rondina, who stands at 5-foot-6, is set to be named the MVP of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament after leading University of Santo Tomas to its second Final Four sint in five years.

The Golden Tigresses’ skipper said height is not the measurement of one’s worth but the heart in how she plays in the floor.

READ: UST pride: Cherry Rondina is UAAP Season 81 MVP, Eya Laure is Rookie of Year

“This is for the people whom I’ve inspired even though we’re small it shows that we can,” said Rondina in Filipino Thursday at UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion. “If you put your heart in every game, if you put your 101 percent to play for your team then there won’t be any problems.”

Of the past five MVPs, the shortest one was Season 75 winner Ara Galang who stands at 5-foot-8.

Aby Maraño, the solo MVP of Season 74 and co-MVP with Galang in 75, stands at 5-foot-9, the same height as Alyssa Valdez who won three straight from 76 to 78.

READ: Finals-bound Sisi Rondina, UST far from done 

Season 79 MVP Mary Joy Baron is a shade under six feet at 5-foot-11 while Season 80 winner Jaja Santiago is at a towering 6-foot-5.

“Height doesn’t really matter in volleyball, what you need is a big heart, and how you put your effort on working to raise your team,” said Rondina who finished the season with the highest scoring total of 259 points.

Rondina will also take the 2nd Best Outside Hitter and Best Scorer awards before the start of Game 2.