There’s no such thing as a limitation for Sisi Rondina as she carves her name into Philippine volleyball royalty.
In the realm of Philippine volleyball, Sisi Rondina has long stood tall despite being undersized at the wing spiker position. Listed at five-foot-four, what Sisi lacks in height has been compensated with natural athleticism and a competitiveness that’s turned her physical limitations into a source of motivation against more imposing competition.
“Ako, when I started playing talaga, nasa isipan ko na parang, ‘Matangkad siya, so kaya ko kahit maliit lang ako’, ‘yun laging iniisip ko,” Sisi tells The GAME.
Now 26 years of age, Sisi Rondina has established herself as an elite talent in both beach and indoor volleyball. Among her many accolades, Sisi is a one-time champion in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and is a two-time silver medalist in the Premier Volleyball League with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
In her exclusive interview with The GAME, we discover Sisi’s story of redirection into volleyball, a defiant journey that has seen her rise to Philippine volleyball greatness in the hopes of paying it forward to a family that raised her right.
From sprinting to spiking
While her accolades might suggest otherwise, volleyball was the last thing on Sisi Rondina’s mind as a youngster growing up in Compostela, Cebu. In fact, she initially had dreams of becoming a track and field athlete, which she attributed to the coastal nature of her hometown.
“Kasi nasa tabing dagat, mas makikita mo talaga ‘yung larong track and field don kasi syempre sa probinsya puro kami mga laro ng mga batuhan, ganon so lahat parang involved ‘yung takbo,” Sisi recalls.
It was Sisi’s mother Alona who introduced her to volleyball as a third grader. Alona, an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Brunei, was on a week-long vacation in Compostela and had picked up volleyball as a leisure activity of sorts. As Sisi puts it, her first exposure to the sport was like “destiny”.
“So parang dun ka mapapaisip na, ah parang destiny talaga ‘yung volleyball para sakin! Kasi pagkauwi na pagkauwi niya [her mother], tutulog lang siya and then pagkahapon non, maglalaro na kami ng volleyball. Parang out of nowhere lang talaga na leisure time lang niya, naglaro lang kami ganyan ganyan,” Sisi fondly says as she thinks back to a simpler time in her life.
“And then kinabukasan, may nagpa-try out dun sa school…Grade three ako noon, sa Estaca Elementary School. So ayun, nag-try out ako and after nun nakuha ako, tas after two weeks nun may pa-district meet samin,” she adds.
Sisi then dedicated herself to being a student of the game, which was aided by a cousin who coached at the collegiate volleyball in Cebu. Really, it’s as if the universe itself was supportive of the young Sisi’s path to volleyball stardom.
“So lagi akong sumasama sa kanya and then in-introduce nya ako sa parang nagtututro at nagki-clinic, tas after that, sinipagan ko siya! Like puro na ako clinic, puro na ako kasama sa mga laro laro. Ganon, hanggang natuto ako,” she says. “Then after that, parang ini-invite invite na ako [sa laro], parang sa amin lang din and parang pustahan lang.”
By the time she was in high school, volleyball even became a raket for Sisi, as she was often invited as a guest player in neighboring barangay leagues, or paliga around Cebu. Even with a five-four stature, Sisi refused to be bogged down by stereotypes surrounding her height. In fact, being a libero was something she’s yet to experience in her decorated volleyball career.
“Nung high school ako, nag-quicker pa ako, middle blocker! Pero never ako naging libero,” she proudly recalls.
Sisi was also an avid viewer of the UAAP, which further pushed her to overcome her height disadvantages. The Cebuana hotshot used to follow the league during the early 2010s, which included not one, but two diminutive spikers taking flight in San Marcelino.
“Nanonood din naman ako ng UAAP dati, ‘yung mga panahon nila Amanda Villanueva at Bang Pineda,” Sisi recalls.
The five-foot-five Pineda and five-foot-three Villanueva are among the most recognizable Adamson Lady Falcons in UAAP women’s volleyball, being the small but explosive duo that won a beach volleyball crown way back in Season 76.
Pineda and Villanueva were equally impressive in indoor play, having led the Sherwin Meneses-coached Adamson to the Final Four in Seasons 75 and 76. All that, while keeping up with more physically gifted opponents on the collegiate sands and Taraflex.
“Nakikita mo talaga na kaya [nila Pineda and Villanueva], so dun palang mamomotivate ka na! So ayun, ako galing lang na na-inspire ako, and sa lahat ng mga athletes din sana, sana ‘di nila sukuan [‘yung laro nila],” she says.
Sisi’s high school days also included her Palarong Pambansa appearance, where she represented the Central Visayas region in 2013. Here, she was awarded “Best Attacker” in indoor play, which further punctuated her rise in the amateur ranks.
And in showcasing her stellar play, Sisi also captured the attention of several collegiate programs, including those from the UAAP and NCAA in Manila. But for all the offers she received, it was the University of Santo Tomas that stood out the most.
Her reason? A pitch made by “Coach Dolo”, or UST beach volleyball head coach Paul Jan Dolorias.
“Ang tinignan ko kasi sa coach ko is alam mo ‘yung perspective niya sa life? Na pinakitaan nya agad ako e na ‘Ako walang wala ako dati, pero eto ako ngayon nakapag graduate na, nakakatulong ako sa pamilya ko’,” Sisi recalls of her initial conversation with Coach Dolo.
“So dun ako nahulog kay coach, dun ako nabighani sa kwento niya tas ayun, niligawan niya ‘yung tatay ko para makuha ko ‘yung card ko sa school,” she adds. “And after that, parang umokay na po sa UST and then may times na may challenges, homesick kasi laki akong lapitin sa pamilya like [gusto ko] sabay kumain and then sobrang family-oriented ko talaga.”
Earning her stripes
Though if she’s being honest, Sisi Rondina was once skeptical of the Tigresses’ offer. Coming from a simple family and growing up in Compostela, studying at a prestigious university like UST seemed like an unreachable dream for the Cherry Bomb.
“Kasi, sino ba naman kami, parang ganon,” she explains. “And then ang naging inspirasyon ko lang non na mag-push sa UST bukod kay God and sa pamilya ko, tinignan ko talaga ‘yung sitwasyon namin sa Cebu, walang-wala talaga kami. Kahit ‘yung mama ko na nasa ibang bansa, not enough pa rin talaga kasi hirap na hirap kami that time eh.”
Sisi’s UAAP debut took place in Season 77, where she and fellow rookie Rica Rivera toppled a Kim Fajardo and Cyd Demecillo-led DLSU for the beach volleyball championship. Sisi was also named Most Valuable Player that year, which effectively announced her arrival at the UAAP level.
Conquering the sands became a major theme in Sisi’s UAAP career, which came with three more championships and MVP awards between Seasons 79 and 81. By the time she left España, Sisi and her partners won four out of the Tigresses’ six UAAP titles in beach volleyball.
“Everytime na nasa court ako, everytime na may laro ako, parang sakin meron kang apoy na papatayin, so parang giyera talaga na kailangan mo ipanalo, and I know na pag may laro, may matutunan akong bago, hindi lang sa liga pero sa mga taong naglalaro and nakalaro ko,” explains Sisi as she reflects on her success in UAAP beach volleyball.
“Lagi ko lang iniisip na this gift from God is shinoshowcase ko lang, na sobrang blessed to have this kind of talent kasi sa liit kong ito, kaya ko makipagsabayan, kaya kong magpa-inspire ng mga young ones na katulad ko na maliliit din.”
In between Sisi’s time with UST was her success in the Philippine Superliga, where she split time with the Foton Tornadoes and Petron Blaze Spikers. The PSL was a semi-pro league, so Sisi and her UAAP peers were able to play there without compromising their collegiate eligibility.
It was here that Sisi won her first indoor volleyball titles: the 2016 PSL Grand Prix with Foton, and the 2017 PSL All-Filipino Conference with Petron. Barely into her 20s, Sisi was already sharing the Taraflex with icons such as (again) Kim Fajardo, Jaja Santiago, and Rachel Daquis to name a few.
But more than learning from all-time greats, Sisi’s semi-professional career allowed her to provide for her family back in Compostela. This, as she established herself as a must-watch name in the growing Philippine volleyball scene at the time.
“Going here sa Manila, gusto ko na talaga tumulong sa family ko, and masasabi ko na those teams na napasukan ko, ‘yun ‘yung mga teams na tumuwid sa pangarap ng mga kapatid ko, nakapagtapos sila ng pagaaral and nabigyan kami ng bubong, which is ‘yung bahay na nabili ko,” she says.
Sisi also had several ates guiding her in Petron and Foton, who willingly shared their knowledge as veteran volleyball stars. But for all the advice she’s been given, one in particular stood out for the up-and-coming Cebuana.
“Nung nasa Petron ako, parang sabi ng mga teammates ko dun na ‘wag ka mag-alala, andito kami sa likod mo. So ‘yun ‘yung isa sa mga naging highlight ko sa past pro teams ko na nakuha ako. Alam mo ‘yun ang ganda sa feeling na naglalaro ka na ‘di mo naiisip na ikaw nagiisa?” Sisi recalls.
“That time din kasi, I experienced depression and nasabay siya [sa laro], and sila lang ‘yung tumutulong din sakin na magpatuloy kahit mahirap. So ayun, nakuha ko sa kanila is alam ko na ‘di nila ako iiwan and ‘yun din ‘yung ginagawa ko ngayon sa mga kasama ko na kahit anong mangyari, ipagtatanggol kita,” adds Sisi, who played with the likes of Bang Pineda, Ces Molina, Rhea Dimaculangan and Aiza Maizo in Petron.
The other side of her rise
But behind Sisi Rondina’s success in the PSL and UAAP beach volleyball were UST’s struggles in indoor play. The Tigresses lost out on a fourth-seed playoff in Season 77, before completely missing out on the Final Four in Sisi’s sophomore year in Season 78.
Coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes and a third-year Sisi led UST to a Final Four berth in Season 79, before injuries effectively derailed their UAAP Season 80 campaign. Disappointing as it was, a timeless saying kept Sisi going for the Tigresses on the Taraflex.
“Lagi kong bitbit ‘yung [saying], ‘Everything happens for a reason’ talaga, na kahit paulit-ulit kaming ‘di nakaka-podium sa apat na taon ko, na sa last season ko pa siya naramdaman, so I think may tamang oras para diyan. Sa oras na ‘yun, dun mo malalaman na dadating at dadating ‘yung time na ipapatikim sayo pag pinagtrabahuhan mo,” she said.
Sisi and UST managed to turn a corner by the Season 81 indoor tournament, making the women’s volleyball finals against the Ateneo Blue Eagles. While the Ateneo core of Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag, and Kat Tolentino were too much, it was nonetheless a special season for Sisi as she bid farewell to UST and the UAAP.
For one, the powerhouse Tigresses were competitive again in women’s indoor volleyball after struggling during much of Sisi’s UAAP career. Sisi, meanwhile, was treated to a much-needed family reunion during this stretch.
In a heartwarming gesture by the UST community, Sisi’s family watched Game 2 of the finals against Ateneo courtside. More than watching Sisi play, they also accompanied her when she accepted her indoor MVP and Best Outside Spiker nods as a graduating Queen Tigress.
“Sobrang special ‘yun kasi first time ko makatanggap ng award na buo ‘yung pamilya ko, kasi lumaki ako na kahit maging honor student ako, si papa lang kasi ‘yung mama ko matagal siya sa ibang bansa,” Sisi said.
“Napakaspesyal nun kasi hindi lang sa camera or sa graduation nakita ‘yung kung gaano kaganda na meron akong pamilyang buo, but lahat ng tao, lahat ng mga sumusuporta, nakita nila na I was guided by this beautiful family and I’m so proud na makita sila nang maraming tao.”
Life on the sands
Twenty-nineteen can be viewed as a turning point in Sisi Rondina’s career. By this time, she had already written her name in UST’s rich volleyball lore as a queen of the sands and as an ace on the Taraflex. It was a similar trajectory in Sisi’s semi-professional stint, where she won two beach volleyball titles with Petron to accompany her indoor success with them.
After four years between España and her PSL teams, it was now time for Sisi to don the national colors. The 30th Southeast Asian Games were coming up, and Sisi was tapped to banner the Philippines in beach volleyball with partner Bernadeth Pons and the Dzi Gervacio-Floremel Rodriguez tandem.
The Philippines had hosting duties at the time, which heightened the pressure attached to representing the country in the biennial meet.
Yet by the end of the tournament, Sisi Rondina and the Philippine contingent stood tall. They were now SEA Games bronze medalists, and had snapped the country’s 15-year medal drought in beach volleyball.
“Sobrang unexpected ‘yon, kasi iba na ‘yon e, isa ‘yun sa mga matataas na liga dito sa Southeast Asia,” Sisi says of their feat.”Naging feeling ko lang noon is ang sarap maging Pilipino kasi ‘di tayo gifted masyado sa physical but alam mo ‘yung tibay ng loob, ‘yung matapang, ‘yung liksi, kung ano ‘yung mayroong ilalabas ang Pilipino.”
“Sobrang proud kasi hindi rin namin alam, ako ‘di ko rin alam eh na aabot kami doon…So every time na nanalo kami alam mo ‘yun? Papalapit kami sa goal namin which is to get a podium finish and ayun, lahat ng mga hirap mo is nasuklian ng maganda.”
From here, Sisi would fully dedicate herself to beach volleyball. The potential to thrive internationally was there, and it was a matter of harnessing it. As with other disciplines, getting some much-needed mileage was essential if Sisi wanted to reach the next level on the sands.
Sisi ended up winning her second SEA Games bronze medal in 2022, teaming up again with Pons and the Jovelyn Gonzaga-Floremel Rodriguez pairing in Vietnam.
And then came the FIVB Beach Volleyball Pro Tour Futures in December, where Sisi and a new partner in Gonzaga copped an impressive gold medal in the two-day meet. Up to today, Sisi herself actually remains shocked as to how they pulled the feat off.
“Ay, ‘yun talaga! Hindi ko alam paano kami nakakuha ng gold doon, pero ang nakita ko lang doon is sobrang walang kinakatakutan…Sabihin na nating sinulit talaga namin kasi minsan lang nagkakaroon ng ganoon dito sa Philippines, minsan lang ‘yung mga ganong liga na nangyayari,” recalls Sisi, as if she and Jovelyn had just won the gold yesterday.
Sisi recalls facing veteran players in the Subic Bay meet, including those who have reached the FIVB’s higher Challenger and Elite 16 tiers. So as relative newcomers, part of their title run was going up against some of the world’s best beach volleyball players in the international meet.
“So ‘di ko in-expect kasi malakakas din ‘yung mga naglaro, pero siguro naging isa lang ‘yung naging goal namin ni Ate Jov doon, na hindi kami ‘yung magcha-champion pero sabi ko lang, ‘Kahit saan tayo abutin, pagkatiwalaan lang natin ‘yung bawa’t isa, okay na ako doon’…And ‘yun, binigyan kami ng magandang podium which is nag gold nga.”
All in all, Sisi Rondina spent four years as a full-time beach volleyball player, winning two SEA Games bronze medals and seeing action in the FIVB championship from 2019 to 2023. Even as the pandemic disrupted her time, Sisi believes that her decision to conquer the sands remains “worth it” in the end.
“Kasi kahit naman ‘di ganon kadami ‘yung audience ng beach, but to think na kami ‘yung naging pioneer…The goal lang naman din dun is bukod sa makapaglaro kami ng international, malaman ng mga tao na maganda sa beach volleyball. Na ma-appreciate din ‘yung beach volleyball kasi makikita din ‘yung tapang ng mga babae, mga kalalakihan na dalawa lang sila,” she says.
“And alam mo ‘yun? Kaya nilang makipagsabayan sa pahabaan ng hangin, ‘yung ganon, endurance. Ayun, masaya sa apat na taong nagstay kami sa beach volley and umabot na ng pandemic, pero kasama pa rin.”
Full-circle moment
After plying her trade on the sands, Sisi Rondina would now return to the Taraflex, joining Choco Mucho midway into the 2023 PVL season. According to her, it was a mix of practicality, and an “agreement” with beach volleyball backer Rebisco.
“‘Yung naging usapan namin, hindi naman sya kailangang bumalik talaga kami because kailangan. Matetengga din kasi kami since wala kaming international na liga non so that’s why we played [sa indoor]. Kasi the plan is SEA Games lang talaga kami, and before that SEA Games, may mga international,” explains Sisi, who was previously signed with Creamline’s beach volleyball team.
Sisi Rondina’s indoor comeback took place in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference, where Choco Mucho settled for a seventh-place finish. While it was her first indoor tourney since 2019, Sisi impressively announced her return by being the conference’s top scorer with 104 points. She was also the third-most efficient spiker with a 39.57 percent success rate.
For Sisi, it was a matter of prioritizing her physical conditioning. Her body had been used to the softer sands and the often harsh summer heat of the beach. So before joining Choco Mucho in training, the Cherry Bomb utilized her offseason as a way to re-adjust her body and style of play.
“So ganon lang, parang one month ata ‘yun na nag-adapt ako [to indoor]…Training muna ako na nagpa-condition muna ako nang indoor bago ako sumalang, bago ako nagjumping. Lahat ng mga basic skills, ginawa ko muna siya on my own and nagpatulong muna ako sa [strength and conditioning coach],” explains Sisi, who tapped a personal strength and conditioning coach ahead of her return to indoor play.
Sisi’s discipline bore fruit in her next conference with Choco Mucho: the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference. Her body was now re-conditioned for the Taraflex, and the one-month Invitationals allowed her to shake off any rust in her return to the indoor circuit.
Only two conferences in, the Cherry Bomb led Choco Mucho to its first-ever PVL Finals appearance against the mighty Creamline Cool Smashers. While Sisi and the Flying Titans settled for silver, it marked a turning point for the franchise. Sisi also copped her first Conference MVP award in the Second AFC, further highlighting her mastery of the indoor game.
“For me, bonus lang talaga ‘yung nagkaka-award, I think credits lang talaga sa mga kasama ko na gusto lang din magka-podium ‘yung team, and sino ba naman ‘yung ayaw na lahat ng paghihirap mo may magandang kalalabasan. And ‘yung individual award, kung ibibigay sayo, tanggap. Pero for me, most important is the team award,” she reflects.
Sisi would lead Choco Mucho to another Finals appearance in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, setting up a rematch with sister team Creamline. Though it was another silver medal finish, Sisi had re-established herself as a game-changer on the Philippine volleyball Taraflex.
And then came her national team debut on the indoor circuit. May 15, 2024, marked a new beginning for Philippine volleyball, with the national team program unified under the new Alas Pilipinas banner. This new beginning came with a star-studded pool, one that included the Cherry Bomb herself.
Days removed from the 2024 AFC, Sisi would now don the national colors once more. Only this time, it wasn’t going to be in the sand courts that she once ruled. It was for the AVC Challenge Cup, to be held right in the heart of Manila.
Against all odds, that Alas Pilipinas core snagged a bronze medal in the one-week tourney, which was the country’s first medal in an AVC-sanctioned event after 63 years. Sisi herself was a key cog in that run, forming an offensive trio with former UST teammate Eya Laure and DLSU Lady Spikers wunderkind Angel Canino.
“Sobrang unforgettable ‘yun, promise! Two games lang kami nag-training non, pero masasabi ko talaga na it’s the dedication of everyone talaga na ‘yun na iba na ‘to, we will commit ourselves talaga dito sa Alas kasi hindi na ‘to mother team, hindi na ‘to ikaw lang but you are also representing your country,”
Sisi and Alas would end their national team window with two more bronze medals in the SEA V.League. Sure, there’s still a long way to go, but it also showed that the Philippines was one step closer to closing the gap against their regional rivals.
“So ibang dagdag na kahit may onting pressure, kung makikita mo ‘yung mga kasama mo na gusto maglaro talaga, kayang ipagtanggol ‘yung team, gaganahan ka maglaro and ‘yun, led by Ate Jia [Morado-de Guzman], hindi ganon kahirap kasi alam namin na maganda siya magdala ng kasama,” Sisi says of their national team window.
Job’s not finished
By the time this story is released, Sisi Rondina will be in the midst of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference with Choco Mucho. Come December, she’s expected to carry the flag once more when Alas Pilipinas competes in the 32nd SEA Games in Thailand.
But for all the accolades she’s received, Sisi knows that the grind is far from over.
“‘Di ako titigil hanggang kaya ko pa tumalon, I will always chase that dream and lahat ng mga opportunities na mayroon hanggang kaya ko pumasok o ibigay sakin igagrab ko talaga. And I will always pray na sana sa biyaya na binigay sakin ni Lord is marami ako matulungan and marami ako ma-inspire,” Sisi says with a tone of conviction.
Moreover, she hopes to continue being an inspiration for the next generation, just as she was inspired by former Adamson stars Pineda and Villanueva as a budding talent in Cebu.
“Syempre gusto ko rin maalala ng mga tao, lalo sa mga young ones, na katulad ko na maliliit na…’yung mga katulad naming maliliit kayang kaya namin makipagsabayan basta ilagay lang talaga ‘yung puso and paano lalaruin ‘yung laro na meron kami,” she says.
Though the job’s not finished, Sisi can’t help but be happy with all that she’s achieved. In her pursuit of volleyball greatness came the ability to fulfill her family’s dreams way back in Cebu.
As she said, it allowed her siblings to finish their studies, and it provided her family with a home they could call their own in Compostela.
“I think I’ll say lang talaga na thank you bukod kay Lord, sa volleyball, ang dami niyang natuwid na pangarap…I think naman kasi ang pinakamain reason ko lang naman kung ba’t ako nandito sa volleyball is bukod sa makatulong ako, but to pay back talaga sa nagawa ng pamilya ko and makita ko ‘yung pamilya ko na masaya,” Sisi says.
“Nakikita namin ‘yung mga outcomes na kung ano ‘yung mga naibibigay ni volleyball samin, and ayun nage-enjoy kami kung ano ‘yung mga blessings na binibigay samin.”
Indeed, volleyball has been more than kind to Sisi Rondina. In return, she’s used her God-given talents to inspire the next generation of stars, while bringing glory to her country on both the sands and the Taraflex.
All that from a gifted kid who only wanted to provide for her family back home in Compostela.
Text RJ BALLECER
Photography EXCEL PANLAQUE of KLIQ, Inc.
Creative Direction MARC YELLOW and CAS ASEOCHE
Hair and Makeup CATS DEL ROSARIO
Styled by BRYAN LAROZA
Official Venue Partner GAMEVILLE BALL PARK
Sittings Editor SID VENTURA and ANNIKA CANIZA
Production Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Special Thanks LENON ARTISTS MANAGEMENT