Palarong Pambansa standouts from Cebu suit up for UST Spikers

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TWO VOLLEYBELLES from the Queen City of the South are raring to dazzle the UAAP sand courts.

Rica Jane Rivera and Cherry Ann Rondina, both standouts from the 2014 Palarong Pambansa in Laguna, will suit up for UST, replacing Pam Lastimosa and Maru Banaticla.

Though both rookies, Rivera and Rondina already have the confidence of veterans as they enter the collegiate beach volleyball scene.

“What we will make them [opponents] feel during the game is that they are playing against veterans,” the 16-year-old Rivera said.

The newest duo for the Golden Tigresses are banking on their experience in the Philippine National Games (PNG) where they earned a silver medal last May 24.

The PNG stint played a major role in boosting their morale, Rivera said, as they overcame a short four-day preparation and opening jitters to finish at second place behind the Southwestern University Lady Cobras.

“During PNG, we were sent to the court right away. We didn’t have much preparation. We had no idea how our play would go and how to play against the veterans,” said Rivera, who graduated from the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu.

Despite their early struggles, Rivera said their passion for the sport prevailed over what seemed to be a clueless moment and converted their distress to an opportunity to prepare for the real deal.

“It [PNG] was our preparation for UAAP. When we played [in PNG] and made it in to the championship, it helped a lot in boosting our confidence” Rivera said.

These new court stunners are aware that the UAAP is a completely different playing field and admitted that they are still a work in progress.

“We are really preparing for UAAP,” said Rondina, who played for Compostela National High School in Cebu and was named Best Attacker in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa.

Rivera said the tandem was on a mission to improve on UST’s performance last season.

Last year, the duo of Banaticla and Lastimosa failed to defend the crown after getting swept by Adamson’s Shiela Pineda and Amanda Villanueva in the finals.

And for season 77, UST is looking at De La Salle University as the new roadblock on its way to reclaiming the crown after the Lady Falcons lost Pineda to graduation.

“Pineda is no longer with Adamson, only Amanda [Villanueva] stays with the team. I think La Salle will be our toughest contender this season,” Rondina said.

Even returning beach volleyball head coach Emil Lontoc is confident for the two Cebu-natives, commending their potential that can carry them to the top.

“They have a stronger defense which was what we lacked last season,” Lontoc said.

With the recent issues surrounding UST’s failure to recruit top rookies, the arrival of Rivera and Rondina proved that the school is still a top destination for high school standouts.

For both of them, entering UST was a decision based on what the school can offer in terms of academic excellence and not just a ticket to UAAP stardom.

“For me, the school already has its standards and it’s a factor when you look for a job in the future,” said Rivera, a Marketing management freshman.

“I already feel the Thomasian spirit. I feel that I’m already part of the Thomasian community when I entered the school. I’m really excited for UAAP,” Rondina said.

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