Choco Mucho finds itself in the middle of the pack as the Premier Volleyball League enters its one-month holiday break for the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference. The Flying Titans finished the year with a 3-3 record, tying with the Akari Chargers for sixth and seventh place.
For Choco Mucho to fully realize its potential when 2025 begins, head coach Dante Alinsunurin believes team chemistry is the key.
“Syempre, yung as a team, as a whole kasi pabago-bago talaga kami ng players sa loob ng court. Kailangan talaga yung jelling ng team, siguro more team building pa, more team bonding pa para yung gusto namin ay iisa na lang,” said Alinsunurin after their win against Farm Fresh on December 12.
“Minsan ang team, pag wala talagang isang gustong mangyari, nagiging sabog-sabog kaya kailangan talaga namin mag-usap-usap pa, magkwentuhan pa, or mag-bonding pa para kung ano man yung gusto naming mangyari, or may mga problema kami, maayos agad,” he added.
Player availability has been a challenge for Choco Mucho at the start of the record six-month PVL conference. Setter Deanna Wong is sidelined due to a knee injury, Aduke Ogunsanya is still recovering from an ACL injury, and Mean Mendrez has yet to see action.
Meanwhile, outside spiker Des Cheng has returned but has been limited to a service specialist role in the team’s first six matches.
“Sa ngayon, happy na rin ako sa naging sitwasyon namin. Sabi nga ng mga players ko, tatapusin namin ngayong taon na maganda para pagdating ng January, masarap mag-ensayo, maglaro,” Alinsunurin said.
Choco Mucho is taking advantage of the month-long break to recover from injuries and strengthen its performance, hoping to finish the conference strong and make a return to the Finals.
In the 2024 AFC, the Flying Titans earned silver after losing to the Creamline Cool Smashers in two games.
“Ngayon, nagkataon talaga na may mga bago akong pinapasok sa loob na kailangan ko imaximize kasi may mga bagay kaming pinaghahandaan para pagdating ng bandang huli. Sinabi ko nga sa kanila na kung may nagiging problema tayo pagdating sa tao, ngayon sana pagdating ng January maging maayos na yung takbo ng team natin. Kung ano man yung pangangailangan natin sa tao, nandiyan lagi every time na tatawagin ko, every time na kailangan namin sa loob ng court ay magpeperform,” shared Alinsunurin.
Sisi Rondina has once again been carrying the load for Choco Mucho, leading the entire 12-team league in scoring with 134 total points.
The Flying Titans will return to action on January 18, 2025, against the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles at the Philsports Arena.
