Former University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses star Cherry Rondina is not closing her doors on returning to indoor volleyball.
The five-foot-six Cebuana shared during a recent The Prospects Pod interview she and Negrense Bernadeth Pons have cleared everything with their indoor club Petron Blaze Spikers which plays in the Philippine Superliga before the two departed to play beach volleyball.
“Hindi naman sa sinasabi kong iiwanan na ‘yung indoor,” Rondina said. “Noong pagka-paalam namin sa Petron, ako sinabi ko sa manager namin na hindi po namin kayo kakalimutan.”
“Syempre nagpapasalamat pa rin kami sakanila kasi isa sila sa mga tumulong sa amin. Pero gusto lang din po talaga namin na mag-focus sa beach volleyball kasi gusto din po namin talaga at pangarap namin na magka-gold,” she added.
According to Rondina, she and Pons are determined to boost Philippine beach volleyball.
The two bagged the bronze medal of the said sport during the 30th Southeast Asian Games hosted by the country last year.
“Nagbago po talaga nung nag-bronze medalist kami sa SEA Games. Sobrang ang sarap sa feeling lalo na SEA Games ‘yung pinaguusapan at Pilipinas ang dala,” Rondina said.
She added: “Nung pagkasuot ko ng medal talaga, doon ka na-feel na parang gusto ko pa mas umangat pa. Gusto namin ni Pons na umangat pa, gusto namin magka-points as professional beach volleyball players dito sa Pilipinas at gusto namin maka-gain pa ng experience.”
“We are thankful sa mother team namin which is Rebisco na naglaan talaga ng spot para sa amin. Thankful kami kasi sinuportahan nila kami,” stressed the four-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s beach volleyball champion.
Rondina and Pons were supposed to compete in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Seniors Beach Volleyball Championship and local Beach Volleyball Republic tournaments this year, but all were cancelled due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic./PN
