CEBU CITY – Choco Mucho showed the heart of a fighter and the resolve of a contender, clawing back from two sets down to stun Capital1, 22-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-8, in a thrilling reverse sweep that electrified the opening day of the Premier Volleyball League’s milestone 10th season at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena here on Saturday.
Written off after a lackluster start, the Flying Titans refused to fold, turning what looked like a routine victory for the Solar Spikers into a stirring display of resilience, composure, and firepower before a packed, roaring Cebu crowd.
Eya Laure spearheaded the remarkable turnaround, delivering when it mattered most in the fourth set and the decider, while Sisi Rondina-Rosales brought her trademark high-flying attacks and timely defensive plays to the fore as Choco Mucho seized control of a match that once seemed beyond its reach.
The two-hour, 13-minute victory was more than an opening-day triumph. It offered a glimpse of what the Flying Titans could accomplish with a healthy, complete roster after previous campaigns were disrupted by national team commitments and injuries to key players.
“We worked really hard for this win, and we knew we had to earn it,” said Laure in Filipino. “We kept reminding one another that we had each other’s backs. No matter what happened, we had to keep fighting and trust the process.”
That fighting spirit proved decisive.
Despite surrendering the first two sets, Choco Mucho held its ground, with coach Dante Alinsunurin continuing to believe his wards could turn the tide. The Flying Titans responded with a dominant third-set performance, then carried that momentum into the fourth as Laure unleashed a barrage of attacks, capped by a crosscourt hit that sealed the set and forced a decider.
The former UST standout wasted little time making her presence felt in the fifth, opening the scoring with a powerful hit after an intense exchange of attacks and digs. Capital1 briefly pulled level at 1, but Choco Mucho quickly shifted into another gear, uncorking a 7-2 run to take a commanding five-point lead at the changeover.
From there, the Flying Titans tightened their grip on the match, capitalizing on the Solar Spikers’ errors while continuing to apply pressure at the net and from the back row.
Rondina-Rosales came up big with a series of powerful attacks, including second-chance conversions, and denied Cherry Nunag with a timely defensive play. She then turned a spectacular save by Dawn Catindig, who kept Bella Belen’s attack alive, into another scoring opportunity to preserve Choco Mucho’s five-point cushion.
Laure followed with a back-row attack after Vanie Gandler misfired from the back, putting the Flying Titans at match point. Belen rejected Kat Tolentino to briefly extend the contest, but Capital1’s Pia Abbu committed a service error on the next point, sealing Choco Mucho’s stirring comeback.
The Flying Titans had endured more than two hours of pressure, trailing for much of the early going before finding their rhythm and taking command when it mattered most. Their response underscored a simple truth – a difficult start does not have to dictate the finish.
Laure, who finished with 22 points, 11 excellent digs and 15 receptions, was named the first Most Valuable Player of the Siklab Series, the opening conference of the PVL’s three-conference season organized by Sports Vision.
The national team mainstay also relished the opportunity to bring the lessons she had learned on the international stage back to the league.
“We’re happy to be back in the PVL and to share what we’ve learned from playing with the national team, alongside Bella and Vanie,” said Laure. “It feels good to put those lessons into action here, especially in front of a crowd that gave us so much energy.”
She also expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the Cebuano fans, whose cheers grew louder with every attack, block and spectacular defensive save.
“Grabe, sobrang warm ng welcome ng mga Cebuanos. Maraming-maraming salamat!” Laure exclaimed, her voice hoarse after an emotionally charged performance.
Rondina-Rosales, who came off the bench in the opening set before entering the starting lineup in the second, finished with 12 points, while middle blocker Maddie Madayag added 11. Tolentino chipped in eight, Caitlin Viray contributed six crucial points, and Lorene Toring and Jewel Encarnacion had five apiece as Choco Mucho drew valuable support throughout its comeback.
Capital1, meanwhile, saw a commanding start slip away despite strong performances from its leading scorers. Erika Santos topscored with 22 points, while Belen and Gandler added 15 each. But the Solar Spikers struggled to sustain their early dominance as Choco Mucho tightened its defense and disrupted their attacking rhythm in the final three sets.
Unsteady first-ball receptions further hampered Capital1’s offense, allowing the Flying Titans to build pressure and dictate the pace during the decisive stretches.
Choco Mucho held only a slim 66-65 edge in attacks but finished ahead in blocks, 12-9. Capital1 had the advantage in service aces, 5-2, yet the Flying Titans proved more composed in the clutch, where every point carried greater weight.
And when the match demanded someone to take charge, Laure delivered.
For a team determined to put its previous frustrations behind it, the reverse sweep was an emphatic statement: Choco Mucho has the firepower to compete, the depth to withstand adversity and, perhaps most importantly, the resolve to fight until the final point.
