The mission remains the same for Choco Mucho after the shocking departure of head coach Oliver Almadro.
Interim head coach Edjet Mabbayad made it clear that the Flying Titans are dead-set on making it into the semifinals after their straight sets win over United Auctioneers Inc-Army in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Tuesday.
"Wala pa naman tayo doon sa usapan na yun," said Mabbayad when asked about his future with the team. "As of now, naka-focus lang kami sa remaining games."
Almadro, who has handled the Rebisco-backed squad ever since they joined the league back in 2019, stepped down as head coach last Saturday to focus on Ateneo de Manila University’s women’s volleyball team.
The UAAP champion coach posted a 24-27 win-loss record during his time with Choco Mucho and led the team to a couple of fourth place finishes.
“Of course syempre mabigat talaga, mararamdaman talaga namin yun and hindi naman namin kailangan alisin sa kanila yun. Hinayaan lang namin pero sabi namin sa kanila paggising bukas, ibang usapan na yun tapos na yung kahapon,” said Mabbayad, whose last coaching gig was with National University.
“Lahat naman in general na lang, alam niyo na naman yung pakiramdam na para kang binagsakan ng ano, ‘di ka makagalaw and tahimik lang talaga yung paligid mo and makikita mo sa movement parang mabagal, yun yung feeling,” he added.
Choco Mucho bounced back from a slow performance in the first set en route to a 26-24, 25-10, 25-17 win over the Lady Troopers that placed them at 3-3 in the standings.
"Nung una naniniwala kami na kaya nila yung gawin, kaya nilang kumapit sa mga ganung sitwasyon so siguro pinakita or niremind lang namin sila na kailangan pagkatiwalaan nila yung mga sarili nila," said Mabbayad.
"Alam dapat nila sa sarili nila na kaya nilang gawin yun, kumbaga kailangan nilang kailangan nilang maniwala sa sarili nila para magawa nila, nakita naman natin yung resulta nagawa naman nila," he continued.
Mabbayad hopes that the team can continue where they left off when they take on Creamline on November 17, Thursday at 5:30 PM.
"Masaya naman and hopefully magtuloy tuloy yung panalo para mas masaya," said Mabbayad.
"Ganun pa rin, ipapalabas pa rin namin kung ano yung mga bata. Ipapakita at ipaparamdam namin yung tiwala namin sa kanila na kaya nilang gawin yun kaya sila mismo kailangan nilang maniwala sa sarili nila yun."
