WORTH EMULATING
Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina got one over fellow University of Santo Tomas product Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, but the duo was quick to marvel at the Galeries Tower veteran’s volleyball IQ and Premier Volleyball League (PVL) longevity.
Laure and Rondina dropped 18 points each to stop Choco Mucho’s three-game skid and overcome the hard-fighting Galeries, which drew ample contribution from Pontillas with seven points, in a five-set All-Filipino Cup thriller, 26-24, 20-25, 22-25, 25-13, 15-12, on Thursday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The duo from UST, who led the Tigresses to a historic Finals appearance in UAAP Season 81 in 2019 but settled for silver, were relieved to finally end the woes of the Flying Titans for a 2-3 record.
But more than the win, Laure and Rondina relished the opportunity to play against Pontillas, who is turning 38 on Saturday.
“It’s really special whenever I get to share the court with her,” Laure said of Maizo-Pontillas, a UAAP champion many years before her and Rondina’s time in España.
“Like I’ve said before, I honestly still get butterflies playing alongside her—I can’t believe I get to experience that. She’s really my idol,” she went on.
“It’s so motivating for me that she still plays at such a high level, even after so many years,” Laure, who also wears No. 8 because of Maizo-Pontillas, went on. “Of course, I also hope that one day I can achieve her longevity. That’s the goal.”
Rondina, a UAAP MVP for UST, both in indoor and beach volleyball, agreed with Laure.
“We really look up to her. She’s truly our idol. She’s been playing for so long and her volleyball IQ is really something to admire,” Rondina said. “We hope we can reach that same level someday.”
Picking something up
Going up against the gritty HighRisers, led by Erika Deloria, Jean Asis, and Julia Coronel, Rondina picked up something from Pontillas: Playing smart.
“I realized that volleyball is really different now. It’s not just about who hits harder; you also need a lot of patience,” Rondina said. “It’s not like before, when you could rely mostly on power. Now, it’s about being smart and using strategy.”
Rondina and Laure hope that their UST reunion at Choco Mucho would allow them to achieve the ultimate goal of the franchise to return to the finals and maybe win.
“It’s nice that we are able to bring that chemistry from UST to the pros,” said Rondina, a former PVL MVP.
For Laure, it will take time. But they must trust the process.
“We both just came back,” Laure said. “So we just remind each other what we’re capable of.”
