In the opening week of the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Choco Mucho's Caitlin Viray has captivated fans for stepping up.
Standing tall at 5-foot-8, Viray has been doing well as the starting opposite hitter for the Flying Titans, leading them to back-to-back straight-set victories.
Viray's impact as a member of Choco Mucho's First Six has been undeniable.
In their first game against Farm Fresh last Thursday, she displayed her versatility, contributing an impressive 13 points through 11 powerful attacks and two solid blocks. The following match against Foton on Saturday saw Viray continuing her scorching performance, scoring seven points while her teammate Kat Tolentino provided support from the bench.
Sisi Rondina, Viray's former beach volleyball partner and a key player for Choco Mucho, couldn't be more thrilled to witness her teammate's growth with the team.
Rondina expressed her appreciation, stating, "I'm happy to see her playing for Choco Mucho. You can truly see her progress and the level she has reached. She has applied all the learnings and experiences from her past leagues."
Viray's sudden rise to prominence can be attributed to the unwavering support and trust bestowed upon her by Choco Mucho's head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
The coach's belief in her abilities has motivated Viray to showcase her best performances on the court. The left-handed spiker aims to continue her scoring barrage when the Flying Titans face off against F2 Logistics on July 11, fueled by her determination to reciprocate the trust placed in her.
When asked about her mindset for the tournament, Viray emphasized, "My mindset is to repay the trust given to me by the coach. Every time I step onto the court, I make sure to give my best."
While many may have been surprised by Viray's outstanding performances in the conference, Coach Alinsunurin was not among them. Having witnessed her potential and abilities during training, Alinsunurin had full confidence in Viray's capabilities, hence her inclusion in the starting lineup for the team's initial matches.
"We've been practicing this lineup since we found out about the start of the game, so I have complete trust in whoever I put on the court. I'm really thankful for her performances because she never lets us down. She deserves that position, and she knows that she is repaying the trust we've given her," Alinsunurin explained.
