Choco Mucho finally cracked the Creamline code.
And it did so in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Fueled by Jewel Encarnacion’s breakthrough performance, Eya Laure’s clutch plays and the collective resolve of a team determined to rewrite its history against its fancied sister team, the Flying Titans outlasted the Cool Smashers, 23-25, 25-13, 25-23, 22-25, 15-13, in a pulsating five-set thriller late Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was only Choco Mucho’s second victory in 21 head-to-head encounters with Creamline, but its significance went far beyond ending a long drought against its formidable rival. The victory lifted the Flying Titans to a 4-3 win-loss record, propelling them to solo fourth in the fiercely contested race for the PVL All Filipino Conference Siklab Series semifinals.
For Creamline, the setback was particularly painful. The 11-time league champions absorbed their second consecutive defeat following a four-set loss to PLDT last Thursday, slipping to 4-2.
But it was the manner of Choco Mucho’s victory that made the night especially memorable.
In a rivalry that has consistently delivered high-octane volleyball, the two teams once again put on a spectacular show, treating the capacity crowd to breathtaking rallies, thunderous attacks, ingenious combination plays, spectacular floor defenses and desperate saves that repeatedly brought fans to their feet.
The atmosphere was electric, with supporters of both camps adding their own brand of noise and intensity to every exchange. Every Creamline point drew deafening cheers from the Cool Smashers faithful, while every Choco Mucho rally was greeted with equally thunderous roars from the Flying Titans' army of supporters.
The result was a charged atmosphere that seemed to grow more intense with every passing set, culminating in a nerve-racking fifth-set finish that had the entire coliseum holding its breath.
And when Caitlin Viray finally found the winning touch, blasting the ball past Creamline's stubborn defense on her second attempt, the Flying Titans erupted in unrestrained joy. The ball ricocheted off the Cool Smashers defenders' arms and sailed out of bounds, triggering a celebration that looked every bit like a championship triumph.
Players rushed toward one another, whooping and embracing near the sidelines, while their jubilant supporters turned the venue into a sea of celebration.
Several Titans had their moments in the gripping two-hour, 19-minute encounter, but none shone brighter than Encarnacion, who delivered a career-defining performance with 10 points, five excellent digs and nine receptions.
In just her second PVL season, Encarnacion emerged as an unlikely but compelling difference-maker, rising to the occasion against a team that had long held the psychological edge in this sibling rivalry.
Her performance was more than a statistical breakthrough. It was a testament to the confidence she drew from her teammates and the trust of the coaching staff, particularly at a crucial juncture of the team's campaign.
Reflecting on the team's hard-fought victory, Encarnacion emphasized that their success was a product of collective effort and unwavering support for one another.
“Itong panalong ito, pinakita lang namin na kaya naming talunin sila. Teamwork lang talaga ang pinagana namin. Pag may isang down sa amin ay sasaluhin namin, iaangat namin,” an emotional Encarnacion said after the grueling encounter.
Sisi Rosales led Choco Mucho with 20 points, while Viray chipped in 11 and Laure and Jen Villegas contributed eight points apiece as Choco Mucho edged Creamline in attacks, 66-63.
The two teams were evenly matched at the net, finishing with 11 blocks apiece, underscoring the intensity of the contest. The Flying Titans, however, held the edge in service aces, 6-4, and capitalized on Creamline’s miscues to score 27 points off errors, while committing 21 of their own.
Jema Galanza paced Creamline with 16 points, while Bernadette Pons, Tots Carlos and Pangs Panaga added 14, 13 and 10 points, respectively, their combined offensive output would have been enough to propel most teams to victory.
But Choco Mucho had other plans, refusing to yield as it found a way to outlast the Cool Smashers in a fiercely contested encounter.
Expressing her gratitude, Encarnacion also credited the coaching staff for giving her the opportunity and her teammates for believing in her throughout the game.
“Nagpapasalamat ako at nag-take ng risk sa akin ang mga coaches, pero hindi ko naman magagawa ito kung walang tiwala ang teammates ko. Iniangat nila ang confidence ko at sinalo nila ako kasi hindi naman ako perfect,” she added, struggling to hold back tears.
Her inspired performance also prompted coach Dante Alinsunurin to keep usual starter Laure on the bench for much of the match. But when the stakes were highest, the Choco Mucho mentor turned to one of his team's most formidable weapons, pairing Laure with Rosales in the decisive stretch.
And Laure delivered when it mattered most.
Despite nursing lower-back concerns, the heavy-hitting ace summoned enough strength and firepower to make her presence felt in the pressure-packed fifth set, unleashing a series of crucial attacks as Choco Mucho battled back from an early 0-3 deficit to tie the count at 5.
Creamline, however, leaned on its championship pedigree and big-match experience to regain control, moving ahead, 8-6. But the Flying Titans refused to buckle, fighting back to level the count at 9 after a Galanza attack error.
The Cool Smashers struck twice more, but Choco Mucho answered again. Lorene Toring came up with a crucial block against Panaga to knot the count at 11, sending the already raucous crowd into another frenzy.
Then Laure took charge.
She hammered home a putaway following a Creamline mis-receive before another Galanza attack error and a blistering Laure hit gave the Flying Titans a three-point cushion.
With match point within reach, Choco Mucho appeared poised to finally exorcise the demons of its painful losses to Creamline. But the Cool Smashers, true to their never-say-die character, refused to surrender.
Carlos delivered a crucial hit, and Viray's subsequent attack error brought Creamline within striking distance at 13-14, suddenly breathing new life into the contest and sending the crowd into another frenzy.
With the championship-caliber Cool Smashers threatening to force another extension, setter Deena Wong made a telling decision.
Expecting another Laure assault, Creamline had braced for the Flying Titans' explosive left-side attack. But Wong went right once more, trusting Viray to finish the job.
The first attempt did not end the rally. The second did.
Viray unleashed the decisive blast, catching the Creamline defenders on the wrong end of the exchange as the ball ricocheted off their arms and out of bounds.
Game over. Drought over. And for Choco Mucho, a long-awaited breakthrough finally sealed.
It was a victory built on Encarnacion's unexpected brilliance, Laure's timely heroics, Wong's composure and a team-wide commitment to lift one another when the pressure threatened to overwhelm them.
On a night when both sides had their supporters roaring, pleading and celebrating every precious point, the Flying Titans finally had the last word in a rivalry that had long belonged to the Cool Smashers.
