Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Sisi Rondina looks forward to going up against Filipino-American sensation Brooke Van Sickle when Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz clash for their second win in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at Philsports Arena.
Rondina admitted that Van Sickle is a more experienced player but she’s eager to learn from the former US NCAA Division 1 star in their first of many showdowns this season.
“Siyempre alam ko mas maraming experience yun. Pareho kami beach volley nilalaro niya and indoor. Looking forward na madepensahan ko yung atake niya and alam ko may matutunan din ako sa kanya lalong lalo na pagdating sa atake,” said Rondina, a longtime Philippine women’s volleyball team member.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024
After representing the country as a full-time beach volleyball player from 2020 to last year, Rondina made an emphatic return to indoor action last PVL Season as she carried the Flying Titans to their first-ever finals appearance and emerged as the All-Filipino Conference MVP.
The two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist faces Van Sickle, who also played indoor and beach volleyball in the US.
Petro Gazz Angels’ Brooke Van Sickle in her PVL debut.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Van Sickle, who emerged as the PNVF Champions League, only scored seven points on her PVL debut after Petro Gazz swept Strong Group Athletics, 25-12, 25-20, 25-12, last Tuesday.
READ: Rondina admits tough road back to finals for Choco Mucho
Rondina dropped 17 points in their 25-12, 25-22, 25-18 victory over Nxled on Thursday but she wasn’t satisfied with her floor defense, crediting her scoring to Mars Alba’s setting.
“Masaya kasi unang una sa lahat nag-connect din kami ni Mars and siyempre yung gusto makita ni coach yung sistema niya and yun po trinabaho lang namin kung ano yung dapat naming trabahuin,” she said. “And kita niyo naman po wala akong receive kanina pero tinatiyaga ko naman and thankful ako kay mars sa tiwala and sa tiwala na binibigay sa team.”
The former UAAP MVP out of the University of Santo Tomas said they have to work on their composure towards the end game against the new-look Petro Gazz under Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara.
“Yung challenge lang namin is sarili namin paano namin lalabanan sarili namin lalo na pag magkakasitwasyon na dikdikan yung laban and magtrabaho kami sa sistema ni coach and paniniwalaan namin yung programa niya and papakita lang namin kung ano yung tinetrain namin,” Rondina said.