Rondina-Laure duo remind UST icon Balse of herself and Bernal

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Ging Balse is one of the most iconic players that donned the University of Santo Tomas’ jersey, having captained the team to the title in 2007.

The Golden Tigresses have a chance to replicate that feat in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament and Balse is glad to see another player reach the highest of echelons in this year’s finals series.

Balse, put simply, was in awe of the exploits of Cherry Rondina during UST’s Game 1 humbling of Ateneo, 25-17, 25-16, 25-20, Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rondina finished with 23 points in that three-set win and based on that individual action alone made Balse believe the Golden Tigresses could claim the title.

“I can just feel Sisi’s energy, how she moves, and you can really see in her aura that we will win this series,” said Balse in Filipino.

Balse even noted similarities from her Season 69 team to this year’s current lineup noting that Rondina’s pairing with rookie star Eya Laure reminded her of the partnership she had with Venus Bernal.

Bernal won the MVP plum back in Season 69, the last time UST had a player win the top individual award before Rondina claimed the Season 81 trophy, while Balse was the Season 67 Rookie of the Year and Laure was given the same recognition for Season 81.

“I can see Ven in Sisi while I see myself in Eya because during my time I also had an injury in my right knee and you can see her pushing herself despite the pain,” said Balse.

The current batch of Golden Tigresses can also replicate what Balse’s team did in Season 69 if it continues to do the right things that made them successful in Game 1.

Balse’s Tigresses swept Far Eastern University in the Season 69 finals allowing the Lady Tamaraws to win one set in the whole series.

UST easily handled the Lady Tamaraws, who had Rachel Anne Daquis, Mecaila Morada, and Mary Ann Manalo, in the finals taking Game 1 25-14, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20 and Game 2 25-11, 25-22, 25-19.

“They just have to continue whatever they did, like how they played while also maintaining that same energy,” said Balse. “They have to trust in each other and I told Sisi earlier to lead her team because everyone trusts her as the team’s captain.”

“As the team captain, she’s not just carrying herself out there, she’s taking the whole team with her.”