Sisi Rondina, ex-coach’s semis battle an interesting subplot

Sisi Rondina (right) is more dangerous in intense matches. —PVL PHOTO

Sisi Rondina has, for all intents and purposes, been the main reason why Choco Mucho has a great chance of making it to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference semifinals.

And if there is one man who truly knows what makes Rondina click, it is the coach on the opposite side of the floor whose squad the Flying Titans will try to eliminate Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s some sort of advantage, because I know her game so well,” Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos, who helped Rondina gain star status while they were with Petron in the Superliga from 2017-2019, said in Filipino. “She likes the intense games, because it pumps her up.

“She is just a real fighter. That’s how she likes it.”

The crowd-darling Flying Titans and the HD Spikers battle for one of two Pool B semis berths Tuesday at 4 p.m. as the elimination round closes at PhilSports Arena in Pasig where F2 Logistics is favored for the other slot when it plays also-ran Foton.

As things stand, only Creamline has so far made it to the next round after a 4-0 record to finish its Pool A play. Chery Tiggo and PLDT dispute the second slot in that group in the 6:30 p.m. main game with the winners joining the Cool Smashers and a club each from Japan and Vietnam in the single-round semifinals.

Rondina, the former University of Santo Tomas star, has been shining on her indoor return after nearly four years of beach play. She actually is not thinking about facing her former coach and ex-teammates Ces Molina and Ria Meneses as all she wants is to lead the Flying Titans back to the semis after failed attempts in the last three conferences.

“We will play our hearts out and trust the system that our coach has handed us,” Rondina, who erupted for a pro career-high 29 points in Choco Mucho’s nail-biting 25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 18-25, 15-10 win over Petro Gazz on Saturday, said in Filipino. INQ