Miss Volleyball crown is cherry on top of Rondina’s year

Cherry “Sisi” Rondina reaps the fruit of her passion and commitment. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On March 6, Cherry “Sisi” Rondina will be crowned Miss Volleyball by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), a fitting cap to what had been a sterling 2019 for the former University of Santo Tomas star.

“I feel blessed because i never dreamed that this would be the reward for my efforts,” Rondina said in Filipino. “I just love everything I committed myself to and put all my efforts into playing the game.”

Rondina spearheaded a sterling performance by the Tigresses in the UAAP, where UST finished behind eventual champion Ateneo. The 23-year-old Cebuana was named MVP that season and likewise in beach volleyball where she led the Tigresses to the crown with Babylove Barbon.

Against all odds, Rondina was also the backbone of the beach volleyball campaign that netted a Southeast Asian Games bronze medal, the country’s first podium finish in that event since 2005. Before that, she partnered with Bernadeth Pons and put the Philippines in the quarterfinals of the FIVB Beach Volley World Tour-1 tournament held in Boracay.

“I just hope my achievements inspire people to believe that as long as you have a dream, nothing is impossible,” Rondina said.

Rondina joins a stellar roster of past PSA Miss Volleyball awardees: Alyssa Valdez, Mika Reyes and Dawn Macandili.

Beach Volleyball Republic founder and national team manager Charo Soriano said people enjoy watching Rondina in action because of her unbridled intensity.

“I’ve been watching Sisi since her younger years. And I’ve seen her play with so much raw passion. And people love the way she plays because they know she gives her all every single time, for every single point. And combining her raw passion with exposure and maturity made her an even greater player,” Soriano said.

“Sisi will have many more stories to share. And I can’t wait,” she added.