Choco Mucho kept building up for the tougher grind ahead, picking up another victory in shutout fashion as the Flying Titans towered past the Akari Chargers, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19, to force a three-way tie for second in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday.
Unlike in three of their four victories over lightweight opponents, however, the Flying Titans needed to overcome the Chargers’ game-long resistance before fashioning out the one-hour, 28-minute victory and joining the PLDT High Speed Hitters and the Chery Tiggo Crossovers at second with 5-1 marks.
Isa Molde stepped up to fire 13 points, including 10 on attacks, and later clinched the Best Player of the Game honors as coach Dante Alinsunurin continued to draw stellar plays from his trusted starters and reliable bench.
“Coach always prepares us during training, telling us to always be ready. So from there, we know we really have to rise to the challenge,” said Molde.
“It’s all about the team’s system, ‘di naman kailangan na perfect, but which we need to improve,” added the former UP standout.
But for the Flying Titans, who have won five straight since dropping a four-set defeat to the Creamline Cool Smashers last Oct. 15, the hard road to the semis practically begins on Nov. 16 when they face the embattled Petro Gazz Angels. Choco Mucho will next play F2 Logistics on Nov. 21 before colliding with PLDT on Nov. 23.
“Malaking tulong sa amin yung pagkapanalo namin sa Akari para sa magiging kumpyansa namin sa susunod na games,” said Alinsunurin. “Syempre, based naman doon sa naging performance namin, lahat naman ng gusto namin mangyari sa loob ng court nakukuha namin eh. Karga ng serve, makareceive kami, then yung opensa namin mag-connect. Sobrang thankful ako don sa naging performance ng team.”
Middle Maddie Madayag also showed with 13 hits of her own, including three blocks, while Sisi Rondina and Kat Tolentino delivered 11 points apiece and Cherry Nunag added six markers to underscore the Flying Titans’ balanced offensive sock.
“Syempre masaya kasi lahat kami nag-contribute and yun naman talaga yung gusto naming mangyari, like kahit sinong i-pasok or kahit sinong mag-laro makakacontribute and ang saya kasi ano, ang saya makita na lahat kami nagbibigay ng puntos sa team so ayun,” said Rondina. “Sinusunod lang din namin talaga kung ano yung gustong sistema ni coach and nilalabas namin, pineperform namin kung ano talaga yung tinitraining naming.”
Dindin Manabat scored 12 points while Faith Nisperos backed her up with 10 markers and Erika Raagas, Fifi Sharma and Princess Madrigal finished with eight, six and five points, respectively, for the Chargers, who missed some breaks in the opener and lost in the face of the Flying Titans’ strong finishing kick in the next two frames.
Akari fell to 3-3.
