Cherry Rondina and Bryan Bagunas recognized as Ms. and Mr. Volleyball. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Cherry Rondina and Bryan Bagunas will be named Ms. and Mr. Volleyball in the coming SMC-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night after a stellar 2019 for both their schools and the country.
The awards night will be held on March 6 at Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel.
Rondina and Bagunas were both named MVPs in UAAP Season 81 for University of Santo Tomas and National University, respectively, and also gave the Philippines a couple of medals in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Nicknamed Cherry Bomb, Rondina is the latest to be recognized with the honor following three-time winner Alyssa Valdez, Mika Reyes, and Dawn Macandili.
Bagunas, 22, is the second winner of the award following national teammate and two-time winner Marck Espejo.
Rondina was a double MVP winner in the UAAP for the indoor and beach volleyball circuits and was able to lead the Golden Tigresses to the silver medal in the padded floor and the gold medal in the sand courts with partner Baby Love Barbon.
The 23-year-old’s MVP double was the first time since Season 70 that a single player nabbed both awards after Far Eastern University’s Wendy Semana.
Rondina then led the national team—comprised of her, Bernadeth Pons, Dzi Gervacio, Dij Rodriguez—to a bronze medal finish in the regional games.
Bagunas’ 2019 was equally as impressive.
The Bulldogs’ talisman was the first NU player to become the MVP in the Final 4 era following Espejo’s five-year reign.
Bagunas, who led NU to the Season 81 title, then teamed up with Espejo to steer the Philippines to a silver medal finish in the SEA Games.
Currently playing in Japan, Bagunas suits up for Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler in the V-League.