The Choco Mucho Flying Titans. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Choco Mucho overcame a five-point deficit late in Set 3 en route to a 25-22, 25-22, 25-23 triumph in the qualifying round of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena.
With this, the back-to-back All-Filipino Conference silver medalist is now bound for the quarterfinals, while the Crossovers dropped to the play-in tournament.
The Flying Titans, led by their ace spiker Sisi Rondina, are also riding on a seven-game winning run.
Down 21-16 in the final frame, the Flying Titans got back to their groove, tearing down that separation to make sure that there won't be a fourth set.
Choco Mucho tasted the lead at the 23-22 mark as Regine Arocha fired a service ace, but Chery Tiggo's Seth Rodriguez answered back by blocking Rondina and her signature sharp spike.
Rondina made up for it as she got one through this time to reach match point, 24-23, and another spike — this time, an off-the-block — from the Cebu pride closed out the ballgame which lasted almost two hours.
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"Thankful ako sa naging performance ng mga player ko. Totally team effort talaga 'yung ginawa namin," said coach Dante Alinsunurin during the postgame press conference.
Rondina, the usual suspect from the Choco Mucho side, collected 18 points on 16 attacks, one ace and a block to go with 11 excellent digs, earning the Player of the Game honors.
Veteran Dindin Santiago-Manabat made her presence felt, listing 13 points, while rookie Lorraine Pecana had her moment as she registered six points including three blocks.
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Playmaker Mars Alba orchestrated the Choco Mucho firepower with 13 excellent sets, while Isa Molde helped the floor defense with 13 excellent digs.
"Ang laking bagay sa amin is 'yung floor defense namin, kasi the more na 'yung floor defense namin gumagana, talagang lahat ng player ko nagtutuloy-tuloy 'yung ginagawa na maganda," Alinsunurin said.
Ara Galang top-scored for the defeated side with 18 points, while Shaya Adorador also had 12 markers.