In a duel of spurts, Choco Mucho produced more telling bursts to repel PLDT, 25-20, 23-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12, and secure a coveted berth in the semifinal round of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig late Thursday night.
The Flying Titans battled back from 1-2 set down with a couple of big runs midway and at endgame of the fourth then rallied from 0-5 down in the decider with a searing 10-3 binge to clinch the highly-disputed match, stretch their win run to eight and formalize their stint in the Final Four.
Choco Mucho also towed sister team and unbeaten Creamline to the post-elims play after the Cool Smashers toppled the Nxled Chameleons, 25-23, 25-16, 25-21, early in the day.
With an 8-0 card, Creamline took the first semis seat with Choco Mucho annexing the next with an 8-1 slate, leaving the equally streaking Chery Tiggo (7-1) and Cignal (6-3), Petro Gazz (5-4) and PLDT to dispute the last two slots.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa naging performance naming lahat, hindi lang players, pati coaching staff and management. Matagal naming hinintay itong semis,” said Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin. ”Pero hindi pa naman tapos, ang importante nakuha namin yung goal. Pumasok lang yung sobrang tiwala ko sa lahat ng players kasi kahit down kami never ako nag-time out i-pressure sila para masabi ko anong naging problema siguro sobrang tiwala lang namin sa isa’t isa kaya nakuha namin yung game.
The loss dropped the High Speed Hitters, reeling from a shutout loss to the Cool Smashers in Cagayan de Oro last weekend, to joint fifth with the Angels in a crushing setback following a big second set fightback and a convincing triumph in the pivotal set.
Still, PLDT came out firing after that fourth set slip, racking up the first four points on Erika Santos’ couple of hits, a Royse Tubino ace and a Savi Davison kill. The High Speed Hitters even stretched it to five on a successful challenge.
Though the Flying Titans finally broke the scoring spell on a Sisi Rondina blast, the High Speed Hitters still stayed in control at 9-5 as they pounced on the former’s couple of service miscues and another Choco Mucho misstep.
But the Flying Titans went on a debilitating 10-3 closing run aided by Isa Molde’s key blocks on Santos, the last with help from Maddie Madayag, leaving the High Speed Hitters stung and stunned.
Rondina, who spearheaded Choco Mucho’s fightback in the fourth, soared for another 20-point game while Madayag shone with 18 points and Molde finished with 15 points.
“Hindi ko alam paano namin ginawa pero ang nakita ko lang kanina gigil lahat manalo, lalong lalo na yung PLDT at alam mo yung pasensya namin tinetest talaga, lalong lalo na ako na sobrang mainitin yung ulo pero wala, ang narinig ko lang kanina talaga si Deanna (Wong),” said Rondina.
“Thankful din ako kay Maddie (Madayag) kasi kahit papano, kahit nasa likod ako, tumutulong sila sa harap at gusto talaga namin manalo kanina talaga. Pumunta kami dito na hinding hindi kami matatalo, yun yung mindset namin kanina,” added the former UST standout.
Lefty Caitlyn Viray likewise came up with the right hits and added 10 markers, so did Cherry Nunag, who posted a nine-point game and a couple of big kill blocks.
Choco Mucho’s victory likewise spoiled Davison’s 31-point explosion while Tubino finished with 16 points. Santos wound up with 13 markers but whose last two assaults failed to break into Molde and Madayag’s defenses.
“Sobrang naging emotional ako sa panalo kasi sobrang ganda ng laban. Down kami ilang points pero hinabol namin noong fourth set. Everytime pumapasok ako, nagsasabi ako, 'Please! Ihabol natin please!' As in tinitignan natin sa mata kapit tayo hanggang dulo kasi andito na tayo tinrabaho na natin to, tapusin natin nang maayos,” said Madayag.
