ILOCOS NORTE -- Choco Mucho dominated the first set then pounced on Chery Tiggo's poor reception linking the next two frames to fashion out a 25-18, 25-22, 25-21 romp to move a victory away from the finals of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center here.
The Flying Titans racked up 12 straight points in the second and third sets, the first five turning a 20-22 deficit into a steal of a set then the next seven providing the big cushion to the Crossovers' last-ditch rally that fizzled out on Ponggay Gaston and Maddie Madayag's hits.
Up by two at the end of the second set, the Crossovers suddenly struggled on service reception, failing to set up their vaunted offense anchored on Jaja Santiago, Dindin Manabat, and Mylene Paat that has carried them to the Final Four.
"I will not say na we dominated, we just played right siguro yung kalaban nagulat lang din," said Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro.
Kat Tolentino paced the Flying Titans with 11 points while Gaston and Bea De Leon each had 10 markers in the victory.
Deanna Wong made everything possible with 16 excellent sets laced with four points.
On the other hand, Dindin Santiago-Manabat posted a game-high 17 points for the Crossovers while Jaja Santiago was held to just nine points in the loss.
Choco Mucho tries to wrap it all up at 2 p.m. today while Creamline sets out for a sweep against Petro Gazz at 5 p.m.
