Thursday night's game was a rare opportunity for Regine Arocha to make a start for Choco Mucho, and she did not disappoint. Arocha played a pivotal role in Choco Mucho's victory over Army-Black Mamba, which ended the team's two-game losing streak.
The Flying Titans were missing key players Des Cheng and Bea De Leon due to illness, giving Arocha a chance to shine. The former Arellano University standout seized the opportunity and finished with 13 points and eight excellent receptions. Her strong performance helped Choco Mucho survive a five-set scare and secure a 23-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-27, 15-11 victory over Army in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Arocha's contribution did not end there. She came up clutch in the fifth set, scoring three crucial points, including a vital block on Royse Tubino in the team's 4-0 blast that buried the Lady Troopers, 12-5. Arocha's stellar performance in the game earned her the Best Player of the Match award.
After the game, Arocha expressed her hunger and eagerness to play, saying, "Since it was my first time playing with the first six, I felt so hungry and eager to play that I wanted to kill every ball. That's how I felt, and I think that's why I was able to perform well."
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin lauded Arocha's performance, acknowledging that she worked hard in practice and pushed the first six to their limits. "Regine's performance was great, even though she was just a substitute for the original first six. She deserves to be the best player because she always challenges the first six in training," Alinsunurin said.
Arocha's inspiring performance is a testament to the value of hard work, perseverance, and being ready when opportunity knocks. Her underdog story reminds us that every player has the potential to make a difference and that sometimes all it takes is one chance to change the game.
