A great leader is judged through one’s action and example.
Sisi Rondina did just that in the week that was as she fulfilled her promise of bringing University of Sto. Tomas to greater heights in her swan song.
The graduating hitter rallied the Tigresses back into the Final Four for the second time in he five-year career with superb showing in UST’s two outings, enough to earn Rondina the nod for her first-ever Chooks To Go-Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Player of the Week.
The 22-year-old open spiker exploded for 20 points on Wednesday in the Tigresses’ 25-21, 25-12, 26-24, win over University of the Philippines that put UST in a good position for a return stint in the Final Four after missing the cut last year.
Rondina hammered 17 of those points off attacks and added 15 digs and eight excellent receptions.
The four-time beach volleyball champion picked up from she left off four days after with a 21-point performance as the Tigresses submitted Far Eastern University, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23, to validate their entry in the Final Four.
Rondina filled the stats sheet with 17 spikes, three aces and a kill block while showing her prowess in floor defense with 15 digs and 12 excellent receptions in the victory that gave Tigers a chance to vie for a semis twice-to-beat advantage.
The Queen Tigress downplayed her impressive effort in UST’s romp and was quick to credit her teammates.
“Ang maganda kasi, sobrang responsible ng mga bata, nakikinig sila at nagtutulungan kami kaya ito ang bunga ng lahat ng set plays namin, lumalabas,” said Rondina. “Isa lang masasabi ko kanina, sobrang focused ‘yung paglaro namin kanina.”
The Tigresses, actually, entered the match already assured of a semis seat after also-ran National University the Lady Maroons from the Final Four contention but it didn’t distract the Rondina and the rest of UST from their focus of building momentum heading into the postseason wars.
The Espana-based squad (9-4) can snatch a semis advantage if it hurdles the Lady Bulldogs on April 27 and three-time defending champion De La Salle University (9-3) drops all of its remaining games. UST can also force a playoff for a Final Four edge if it wins its last game and the Lady Spikers lose one of their last two outings.