Sisi Rondina channeled her inner Gabi Guimarães to lead the Choco Mucho Flying Titans to their first franchise victory over the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
Sisi Rondina and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans found themselves once again teetering on the brink of defeat on Tuesday night.
Down by two sets to longtime tormentors Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals, the Flying Titans were staring at an uphill climb and needed someone to lead the charge.
Rondina knew that only she could answer the call. She embraced the role of hero, drawing inspiration from her self-confessed volleyball idol and Brazilian superstar, Gabi Guimarães.
“Niyakap ko na talaga, I mean, naka-mindset ako na, ‘Ako na naman ‘to’, and ‘di ko alam kung ano ‘yung nasa isipan ko pero, iniisip ko lang ‘yung idol ko si Gabi [Guimaraes], ‘yung sa Brazil kasi nanood ako sa mga highlights niya talaga before going here,” Rondina recalled.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Hard work, patience pay off for Maddie Madayag as Choco Mucho ends losing skid to Creamline]
“Kaya, ayun, tinitignan ko siya paano siya mag-receive, paano ‘yung ano niya, paano ‘yung composure niya and siguro, wala, parang sabi ko nalang, ‘Sumanib ka, sumanib ka, please lang!”
By channeling her inner Guimarães, the PVL's most recent conference MVP felt a surge of confidence and determination, finding the focus needed to rally Choco Mucho.
The Flying Titans then started to chip away at the lead of the Cool Smashers, eventually forcing a decisive fifth set. Both teams traded blows from there, as the scores ended up being tied at 16.
Like a woman possessed, Rondina went unconscious. She pummeled two consecutive clutch kills that sealed the comeback victory, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16, securing Choco Mucho’s first franchise win over sister team Creamline in nearly five years.
Rondina finished with a spirited double-double effort of 23 points built on 21 attacks, a block, and an ace, laced with 14 receptions.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Sisi Rondina, Choco Mucho score historic first win over Creamline to open All-Filipino semis]
Not one to dwell on personal heroics, Rondina chose to underscore the collective efforts of Choco Mucho.
“Siyempre, all credits talaga sa teammates ko na pinagtrabahuhan talaga namin na maipanalo ‘yung game na ‘yun. ‘Yun, sabi nga ni Maddie [Madayag], finally, naka-isa rin sa Creamline. ‘Yung tiwala din talaga, ‘yung nakita namin kanina, tiwala, puso, ‘yung tipong hangga’t ‘di pa bumababa yung bola, di pa natatapos,” Rondina said.
True enough, Choco Mucho drew key contributions from five reliable Flying Titans, among others.
Royse Tubino backstopped Rondina with 20 points and 12 digs, while Isa Molde supplemented 12 markers.
Maddie Madayag anchored above the net with all but one of her eight points coming from blocks, as Thang Ponce patrolled the floor with 20 digs and 13 receptions.
Mars Alba, who tossed 10 excellent sets, orchestrated clutch plays down the stretch to help pull off the thrilling escape.
“And ayun, wala eh. Kulang na kami sa tao talaga, ‘yun nalang ‘yung meron kami kaya ayun, credits din talaga sa mga pinasok ni Coach [Dante Alinsunurin] na nag-step up talaga.”
Rondina and the rest of the Flying Titans aim to return to the Finals for the second straight conference. With a head start to the round-robin semis, they seek to clinch a berth in the championship round by taking down the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Thursday, May 2, and the Petro Gazz Angels on Sunday, May 5.