May 9, 2015, 12:41 p.m. – SUPER rookies Cherry Rondina
and Rica Rivera of UST took their expertise to Boracay as the reigning UAAP
beach volleyball champions ruled the 18th Nestea Beach Intercollegiate Volleyball
Competition last May 2.
Rondina and Rivera displayed their mastery over Kim Fajardo
and Cyd Demecillo and dethroned the De La Salle University pair with a
sensational 19-21, 21-17, 15-13 victory in the championship round.
The summer meet gathered collegiate champions from around
the country.
“Mas intense ngayon kasi battle of champions pero iniisip
lang namin parang ordinary team lang sila. ‘Yung nakalaban namin noon ‘yun pa
din pagtrato namin sa kanila,” Rondina told the Varsitarian.
The two said their training was more intense for the
tournament.
“’Yung ginawa po kasi ni coach, binalik muna ‘yung condition
namin sa buhangin. Tapos prinactice kung ano ‘yung kulang, y’ung pattern
defense namin and ‘yung service,” Rivera said.
Despite sweeping the tournament, Rondina, the reigning UAAP
women’s beach volleyball Most Valuable Player, admitted the campaign was not a
walk in the park, particularly the championship match against La Salle.
Rivera said winning the title proved that she got her game
back after an ACL injury.
“Goal ko na mag-champion kasi gusto ko ma-prove sa sarili ko
na galing ako injury tapos champion. Pero syempre hindi ko muna inisip agad
‘yun sabi ko i-isa isahin lang namin,” told Rivera. “Tsaka hindi pa siya fully
recover pinilit ko lang.”
Still waiting for the final schedule of a much bigger
tournament in the Philippine National Games, the tandem of Rondina and Rivera
will also join other tournaments in Cebu, Legazpi City and Naga City.
“Hindi ko po masasabi kung champion ulit, but we will try
our best. Pero ready kami kahit sino ang kalaban basta mapag-handaan namin,”
Rondina said. Karl Cedrick G. Basco
