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UAAP: In final year, UST's Rondina has luxury of making mistakes

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/02/19/20190219-sisi-rondina.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>UST&#x27;s Sisi Rondina had 17 points in their first game of Season 81. Richard Esguerra, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – In Season 80, a 17-point outing from Sisi Rondina would have spelled disaster for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses.Rondina, UST&#x27;s diminutive open spiker, scored 296 points for UST last year, an average of 21.14 points per match. They needed every single point she scored just to stay competitive, and as prolific as Rondina was, it was still not enough. The Tigresses won just four games and failed to make the Final 4.In Season 81, a 17-point outing from Rondina doesn&#x27;t necessarily equate to a loss. It&#x27;s still a disappointing performance, for a player who has set such a high bar, but it will not doom UST to defeat.This much was clear on Sunday, after Rondina labored against an Adamson University team that was determined to block her every spike. She converted just 15 of 57 attempts, and committed several attack errors. Indeed, it was a mishit from Rondina that allowed the gutsy Lady Falcons to force a deciding set&quot;Honestly,&quot; she said after the game, &quot;ako &#x27;yung nawala.&quot;Rondina would earn a measure of redemption in the fifth set, and eventually UST hacked out a 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 24-26, 15-6 triumph over the gritty, brave Lady Falcons. But the graduating open spiker was honest about her performance – she knew that in that game, it was her teammates who covered up for her. It was a complete reversal of Season 80, when Rondina was the one who carried the Tigresses on her back and dragged them as far as she could muster.&quot;Lahat (sila) nag-cover up sa akin,&quot; said a grateful Rondina. &quot;Yan &#x27;yung team talaga. &#x27;Yan ang matatawag kong team talaga. Thank you so much.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2019/02/18/uaap-season-81-dlsu-players-impose-social-media-ban-53548">READ: DLSU players impose social media ban</a></li></ul><div>A new luxury</div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/02/19/20190219-ust-tigresses.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Unlike Season 80, Rondina has plenty of back-up this year. Richard Esguerra, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>UST head coach Kungfu Reyes allowed Rondina her subpar performance.&quot;Tao lang rin naman ito,&quot; he said. &quot;Nagkakamali.&quot;Reyes has seen how Rondina fought for UST in the past year, how the spiker from Cebu did everything from offense to defense just to keep the Tigresses afloat in games. He is well aware of the pressure that Rondina bore in Season 80 – a year that former co-Rookie of the Year EJ Laure sat out, while Fil-Italian freshman Milena Alessandrini was still getting used to the UAAP game.Last year, Reyes would not have been as forgiving of Rondina for such a poor outing.&quot;Dati, wala siyang karapatan mag-error eh,&quot; he said of their star player.Things are very different in UST now, however. Laure is still out of commission, but her younger sister, Eya, finally made her seniors debut and immediately proved to be as good as advertised. Alessandrini won Rookie of the Year honors last year, and is already playing at a higher level in Season 81.Reyes also got solid games from Kecelyn Galdones and Caitlyn Viray, while their rookie setter, MaFe Galanza, performed well enough in the fifth set to guide the team to victory.With UST now having several options, Rondina is given a luxury that she was not allowed last year – that of making mistakes, of having off games, of having subpar performances.&quot;This time, ang lakas ng support staff namin,&quot; said Reyes. &quot;Okay lang na mag-error siya (Rondina) ngayon.&quot;This is the team that Reyes has long sought to build in UST, he said. In Season 80, Rondina would score 30 points and they still lost. This time around, she can be &quot;limited&quot; to 17 points, and yet the Tigresses still found a way to pull off the win.&quot;May katulong na siya,&quot; said the coach. &quot;This time, sabi niya nga, may back-up na siya kahit papaano.&quot;&quot;&#x27;Yung Milena, first ano, medyo malamya, pero gumagana na rin noong fourth set. &#x27;Yung block namin, bumalik,&quot; added Reyes. &quot;(Si) Eya, ganoon din, although nagtapon noong dulo.&quot;&quot;Dulo-dulo, meron kaming lilingunin. Dati sa kanya lang kami naka-lingon eh.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/17/19/uaap-rondina-thankful-after-laure-makes-strong-debut-for-ust">READ: Rondina thankful after Laure makes strong debut for UST</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/11/19/uaap-rondina-younger-laure-determined-to-bring-ust-back-to-the-top">READ: Rondina, younger Laure determined to bring UST back to the top</a></li></ul><div>Indoor glory</div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/02/19/20190219-coach-kungfu-reyes.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>UST coach Kungfu Reyes wants Rondina to leave a legacy in the indoor court. Richard Esguerra, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/volleyball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>Rondina does not seem to be comfortable with the idea that she was a one-man show for UST last year. &quot;Last season hindi ko naman iniisip na wala akong katulong, ganoon-ganoon. Naglaro lang talaga ako for UST. Kung sa tingin nila wala akong katulong, let it be,&quot; she said, somewhat dismissive of the whole notion.This year – her last in the UAAP – she welcomes all the help that she now has in the team.&quot;Ngayon kasi, makikita naman, makikita natin na andyan na si Eya, may bagong pumasok. Skills, kita naman. So ayun, okay naman,&quot; said Rondina.&quot;Okay lang sa likod,&quot; she added, laughing. &quot;Ang sarap mag-depensa.&quot;For Reyes, this means that Rondina has a chance to establish a legacy for herself in the indoor game. The Cebuana is already a legend on the sand court, having won four championships for UST during her five-year stay.&quot;At least bago umalis itong si Sisi, ma-redeem niya ang sarili niya not only sa beach volleyball. Sabi ko nga sa kanya bago mag-start si UAAP, i-contaminate niya na ang mga kasama niya, para at least meron siya sa beach, meron siya sa indoor,&quot; said Reyes.&quot;Hindi lang kami hanggang bronze,&quot; he added. &quot;Sabi ko nga this time, sana kami naman. Yun ang labanan.&quot;For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

In Season 80, a 17-point outing from Sisi Rondina would have spelled disaster for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.

In Season 80, a 17-point outing from Sisi Rondina would have spelled disaster for the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.

UAAP: In final year, UST's Rondina has luxury of making mistakes

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UAAP: In final year, UST's Rondina has luxury of making mistakes

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 19, 2019 05:11 PM PHT

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UAAP Season 81

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Sisi Rondina

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