2025 started like Choco Mucho’s year.
Coming off the holiday break in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the Flying Titans went on a tear—winning nine straight games and climbing to fifth place with an 8-3 record by the end of the preliminaries. Their momentum continued with a sweep of the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the quarterfinals, earning them a ticket to the semifinals as the league’s hottest team.
But then, 2025 showed its cruel side.
Injuries suddenly piled up. Dindin Manabat and Maika Ortiz were sidelined, adding to a growing list that already included Kat Tolentino. What once looked like a championship run unraveled fast. Choco Mucho’s streak snapped—and then the losses kept coming.
The Flying Titans went winless in the round-robin semifinals and fell in Game 1 of the bronze medal series to Akari. In just a few weeks, the team that once couldn’t lose had dropped four straight games.
But on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Choco Mucho finally remembered how to win—taking down the Chargers, 25-18, 25-22, 27-29, 25-19, to force a do-or-die Game 3.
“Sa wakas, nanalo din kami ngayon,” said head coach Dante Alinsunurin, visibly relieved.
“Mula semis saka itong battle for third. Sobrang, alam mo 'yun, sobrang down talaga kami nung sa pagkatalo namin sa semis na alam namin na may chance kami pero hindi natin masabi dahil talagang bago kami pumunta ng semis, talagang nagkulang na naman 'yung player namin, nagkulang kami. Pero syempre hindi ko namang kailangan doon sisihin—ang importante lang ngayon naka-recover kami and sana magtuloy-tuloy kami sa Game 3 namin, sa panalo ngayon.”
The win was more than just a morale boost—it was proof they could still rise.
Akari had already dealt two crushing blows to Choco Mucho—first in the semis, when Eli Soyud exploded for 34 points in a 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 16-14 thriller at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Then came the heartbreaking collapse in Game 1 of the bronze series, when the Flying Titans took the first two sets only to suffer a 24-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-11 reverse sweep—putting them one loss away from a podium-less finish.
“Nakakamiss ‘yung ganitong feeling kasi simula nung semis, hindi kami nakatikim ng ganitong panalo,” said Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina, who anchored their Game 2 win with 26 points, nine digs, and seven receptions.
“As a captain naman, sinabi ko lang din talaga sa mga kasama ko na kaya nating agawin ‘yun, mag-trabaho lang kami. Huwag lang kaming titigil, isipin namin kung ano ‘yung mga nangyari sa team namin,” she added.
“Sabi nga namin, magpatawas na kami kasi ang daming nangyayari. Pero despite sa mga nangyari sa team namin, ‘yung positive pa rin ‘yung iniisip ng team. Masaya ako kasi ganito pala ‘yung feeling. Nakakamiss.”
With Creamline also forcing a Game 3 in the finals, Choco Mucho and Akari will settle their bronze medal clash on Saturday, 3 p.m., at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
There, the Flying Titans are determined to finish the season on a high.
“Sabi ko nga sa players ko, kailangan lang talaga na ‘yung communication nila sa loob ng court. Every time na nagsa-struggle kami, laking bagay rin kanina. And siguro, syempre, pag-aralan ulit namin kung ano pa ‘yung puwede naming ilamang in between match-up and situation namin,” said Alinsunurin.
