Sisi Rondina, Choco Mucho star, wins PVL MVP

Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina during Game 2 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals against Creamline.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Sisi Rondina capped her first professional season by being crowned as the Most Valuable Player in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) second All-Filipino Conference.

Rondina led Choco Mucho to its first-ever finals appearance since joining the PVL in 2019 but got swept by sister team Creamline Cool Smashers on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The high-flying outside spiker became the first Flying Titan to win the MVP plum, dedicating her MVP award to the whole team, especially coach Dante Alinsunurin.

“Di man po namin nakuha yung gold ngayon, pero itong award para sa team po namin. Kung may MVP man po, ito po ay para kay Coach Dante. Nagpapasalamat po talaga kami sa kanya dahil sa sistema at programa niya,” said Rondina. “Para sa pamilya ko, sa pamilya ni CJ [Flores] (boyfriend), kay CJ, sa lahat ng sumusuporta.”

It was the 27-year-old Rondina’s first MVP since her final playing year for the University of Santo Tomas, which she led to the UAAP Season 81 finals four years ago only to lose to Ateneo led by her Choco Mucho teammates Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, Deanna Wong, and Bea De Leon.

In her second conference with Choco Mucho, Rondina was the team’s go-to spiker and league’s No. 2 best scorer in the elimination round with 194 points built on 173 kills, 13 blocks, and three aces.

She was the No. 3 Best Spiker with a 37.9 percent attack rate and the top three best receiver with 39.8 percent efficiency in the Flying Titans’ 10-game winning streak to end the elimination round as top two with only one loss.

Rondina powered Choco Mucho’s series comeback in the semifinals to overcome Cignal’s Game 1 win, averaging 21.0 points in three games to book their first finals.

Chery Tiggo rookie Eya Laure got the 2nd Best Outside Spiker to cap her first pro stint, while Creamline star Jema Galanza earned the 1st Best Outside Spiker, her fourth time winning the award for the position.

Michele Gumabao got the Best Opposite Spiker, her third time winning the award. Jeanette Panaga of Creamline and Ria Meneses of Cignal were the two Best Middle Blockers of the conference.

Panaga got her fifth, stepping up in the absence of Ced Domingo, who is playing in Thailand. Meneses won her third-best middle blocker award in the league.

Cignal star Gel Cayuna earned her third best setter award, her second time to win the plum this season. She averaged 4.44 excellent sets per frame as the top four setter at the end of elimination round and emerged as the No.2 best server with 0.37 aces per set.

Thang Ponce also became the first Flying Titan to win the Best Libero. She was the best digger of the elimination round with 4.71 digs per set.