Choco Mucho chalks up win no. 3 at expense of debuting Perlas

ILOCOS NORTE - Choco Mucho notched another win, spoiling Perlas' much delayed pro debut with a 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 victory in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Bacarra here, Sunday afternoon

With the win, the Flying Titans are just behind its sister team and league-leaders Creamline in the standings with a 3-0 card.

The Spikers bucked a number of challenges, including training and extended quarantine woes but failed to overcome a Choco Mucho side so focused on its mission after toppling PLDT in four and blasting Sta. Lucia in three the last four days.

The Flying Titans repulsed the Spikers in a tense-filled finish in the opening set with Deanne Wong completing a 1-2 play that enabled the former to escape after the latter pulled within, 23-24, on Nicole Tiamzon's back-to-back hits.

"Siguro nagkakaroon na ng timing yung middle namin at saka sa setter," said Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro. "But of course, hindi pwedeng tumigil kailangan tuloy tuloy lahat ng teams din gumagaling, lahat ng teams nagkakaroon ng cohesiveness so we really have to maximize also yung familiarity namin, kinakailangan namin yun e."

Choco Mucho controlled the second frame, 17-10, then scored on three Perlas' service miscues to cruise to victory. The Flying Titans pounced on their rivals' 12 unforced errors in that stretch.

It was more of the same in the third although Perlas threatened at 18-19 before Choco Mucho gained on another service error and Kat Tolentino came through with a hit and a kill block and Kim Gequillana scored on her own attack against the Spikers' two points, including a kill by Cherry Nunag that cut the lead to 20-23.

But Nunag served long in the next play and the Flying Titans soared to their third straight win on yet another Perlas' attack that sailed long.

Ponggay Gaston finished with nine points, 22 excellent digs, and five excellent receptions while Kat Tolentino also added nine markers in the win.

Maddie Madayag had eight points while Deanna Wong registered 22 excellent sets and scored four points.

Perlas was led by the debuting Nunag with 11 points.