Rondina, Arocha honored as first ever Collegiate Volleyball Players of the Year

MANILA, Philippines – For leading their respective universities to collegiate volleyball prominence, UST’s Sisi Rondina and Arellano’s Regine Arocha have been awarded as the first ever Collegiate Press Corps Volleyball Players of the Year in the Chooks-to-Go Collegiate Awards night held at the Amelie Hotel in Manila on Monday, May 27.

Arocha helped cement Arellano’s place in NCAA volleyball history after leading the Lady Chiefs to a 3-peat title in Season 94, all capped off with a Finals MVP plum.

Rondina, meanwhile, highlighted a double MVP year by leading a rookie-laden Golden Tigresses squad to the UAAP Season 81 finals, their first appearance in 8 seasons. (READ: Graduating Rondina tells Tigresses: ‘Love UST the way I love UST’)

Apart from giving due props to two of collegiate volleyball’s brightest stars, the Collegiate Press Corps, composed of print and online writers covering the beat, also honored the collegiate basketball players who were part of the year’s best story lines and success stories.

Thirdy Ravena was awarded the Basketball Player of the Year after leading the Ateneo Blue Eagles to back-to-back UAAP titles, resulting to his second-straight Finals MVP award.

Ravena also clinched his spot in the All-Collegiate Team along with three-time NCAA champion Robert Bolick of San Beda, NCAA Season 94 MVP Prince Eze of Perpetual Help, UP’s King Maroon Paul Desiderio, and UAAP Season 81 MVP Bright Akhuetie. 

Represented by Akhuetie, Desiderio, Diego Dario, and head coach Bo Perasol, the UP Fighting Maroons also received a Special Citation award for breaking their 32-year UAAP finals drought last season as well as their 21-year absence in the Final Four.

While UP was awarded for their historic reappearance in collegiate basketball’s biggest stage, the NU Lady Bulldogs meanwhile were given the Award of Excellence for consistently staying at the top. Five-straight championships later, the Patrick Aquino-coached squad has yet to drop their record-breaking 80-game winning streak.

Other awardees for the night included Ateneo’s top rookie Angelo Kouame and four-time NCAA champion Javee Mocon as the Pivotal Players of the Year. Adamson’s Sean Manganti and PBA top rookie pick CJ Perez of Lyceum were handed the Impact Players of the Year.

Finally, multi-titled tacticians Tab Baldwin and Boyet Fernandez were named as the Coaches of the Year. – Rappler.com