Choco Mucho once again displayed its flair for dramatic finishes, rallying from a 1-2 set deficit to outlast Nxled, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-10, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference prelims at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.
The hard-fought victory marked the Flying Titans' fifth consecutive win, improving their record to 7-3 and solidifying their hold on third place behind the unbeaten Creamline Cool Smashers (9-0) and second-seeded Petro Gazz Angels (8-1).
It was also Choco Mucho’s fourth five-set match of the season, all of which they have won – further proving their ability to thrive under pressure.
For Nxled, the loss was a tough blow after briefly reviving its campaign with a weekend win over Galeries Tower. The Chameleons showcased their growing maturity, bouncing back from a first-set loss and stunning the Flying Titans with back-to-back set wins.
They even appeared poised for a second straight victory, racing to a commanding 20-15 lead in the fourth frame.
However, the pressure of closing out the match against an experienced opponent proved too much. Choco Mucho capitalized on a series of Nxled errors, including two attack miscues from Lucille Almonte, to level the score at 20. From there, the Flying Titans relied on their veteran poise, with Maika Ortiz delivering a clutch quick attack and Sisi Rondina sealing the set with a powerful kill.
Nxled had previously impressed with its defensive tenacity, neutralizing Sisi Rondina’s assaults and effectively converting counterattacks. However, when the game was on the line, Choco Mucho’s experience and composure took over, allowing them to complete yet another dramatic comeback.
With the loss, Nxled dropped to a 1-9 record, setting up a likely showdown with the top-seeded team in the next phase.
Sisi Rondina once again took top honors with a stellar 23-point performance, leading Choco Mucho to victory. Isa Molde contributed 12 points, while Dindin Manabat and Maika Ortiz chipped in nine apiece. Royse Tubino and Cherry Nunag added seven points each, highlighting the Flying Titans’ well-balanced offensive attack.
Rondina complemented her scoring explosion with another all-around effort, tallying 19 excellent digs and 10 receptions.
Despite the win, Choco Mucho surprisingly fell short in key statistical battles, trailing Nxled in spiking (59-62) and blocking (10-13). The Flying Titans also had fewer aces (5-6), but they made up for it by capitalizing on their opponents' errors, scoring 35 crucial points off Nxled’s miscues—12 more than they surrendered.
EJ Laure spearheaded Nxled’s attack with 20 points, while Chiara Permentilla added 17. Rookie Lucille Almonte contributed 11 points but struggled with untimely errors late in the match, hampering the Chameleons’ upset bid.
