When the stakes were at their highest, Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin didn’t hesitate to make a bold tactical gamble.
In a classic Game 2 of their 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals series against PLDT, he made a move that could have backfired—but instead, it propelled the Flying Titans into the semifinals.
With Choco Mucho clinging to a slim 10-9 lead in the fifth set and the High Speed Hitters determined to push the series to a decider, Alinsunurin opted for an unconventional adjustment.
He inserted veteran playmaker Deanna Wong into the match, replacing Royse Tubino, and shifted setter Mars Alba to the opposite position—an unexpected but strategic maneuver necessitated by the absence of Dindin Santiago-Manabat due to knee tightness.
“Talagang naisip ko na kailangan ko ng pamalit, ng substitute para makatulong in case na sila Mars ay nasa harapan,” Alinsunurin explained. “Siguro bago namin talaga gawin yung part na ‘yun, talagang pinag-isipan namin kasi kailangan talaga namin magpalit ng tao, kung sinong kailangan.”
The decision gave Choco Mucho a dual playmaker setup, opening up multiple attack options while also fortifying their floor defense against PLDT’s relentless Savannah Davison. Alba, who had been honing her attacking skills in practice, embraced the challenge without hesitation.
“Nakita ko na mas advantage kung setter talaga kasi position niya talaga,” Alinsunurin added. “Kasi wala talaga kaming tao na pwedeng pumalit sa opposite, kaya sabi ko mas gamay ng setter ko yung galaw sa loob.”
As the pressure mounted in the deciding frame, the tactical switch paid dividends. With the score knotted at 13-all, Alba rose to the occasion, crafting a perfectly timed cut shot that evaded two blockers and stunned the High Speed Hitters. That crucial play handed Choco Mucho match point, setting the stage for Sisi Rondina’s game-winning hit at 15-13.
“Pinag-uusapan talaga namin kung ano pa ‘yung dapat naming gawin. Hanggang sa nakita namin pwede palang pumalo si Mars, although tini-training naman niya ‘yan, talaga pumapalo (siya),” Alinsunurin said. “Sobrang crucial ng opensa niya na ‘yun kaya nakuha namin ‘yung game kasi gusto naming makabalik talaga sa semis.”
For Alba, the moment was a culmination of hard work and preparation.
The La Salle standout had been quietly developing her offensive arsenal, frequently participating in free spiking drills to add another dimension to her game.
“For me, siguro may kumpiyansa lang given na ginagawa ko sa ensayo kasi lately nakikisali na ako sa free spiking,” Alba shared. “Napractice naman kaya kumpiyansa din ako may connection kami ni Ate Deanna (Wong).”
Alba admitted she was taken aback when Wong informed her she wasn’t subbing in for her, but for Tubino instead.
“Di ko rin inexpect kasi akala ko kami ni Ate Deanna magpapalit kanina, tapos biglang sabi, ‘Hindi, ikaw',” she recalled with a grin.
The 5-foot-6 playmaker had already proven her worth in the series, turning the tide in Game 1 with her precise playmaking that helped Choco Mucho engineer a stunning reverse sweep. In Game 2, she delivered another commanding performance, tallying 21 excellent sets along with seven points to guide the Flying Titans to the next round.
