For Choco Mucho, survival wasn’t about a perfect start – it was about delivering when it mattered most.
With their campaign hanging by a thread and the threat of a shocking exit looming, the Flying Titans summoned both firepower and grit to outlast the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, 21-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-11, 15-11, in a pulsating do-or-die clash in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference late Tuesday at the FilOil Centre.
Refusing to bow to elimination – and the ignominy of falling to the last-ranked squad – Choco Mucho leaned on its stars when it counted. Sisi Rondina, Maddie Madayag, Eya Laure and Kat Tolentino took turns anchoring a dominant fourth-set surge before capitalizing on the Thunderbelles’ early miscues in the decider.
Clinging to a 14-10 lead but unable to deliver the knockout blow, the Titans turned to their certified closer. And Rondina answered.
After a service error by Laure gave ZUS Coffee a lifeline, the Thunderbelles dug two straight attacks to stay alive. But Choco Mucho found Rondina in open space – and she did the rest. Rising above the defense, she unleashed a blistering crosscourt hit that pierced through the block and sealed the one-hour, 57-minute thriller.
Rondina finished with 27 points and 15 excellent receptions, but it was Madayag who dazzled with a 19-point explosion on an efficient attack clip, adding three blocks to earn Best Player of the Game honors. Laure chipped in 13 points despite limited action, while Tolentino added 12.
“I’m happy na nakabalik ang team. We really struggled at may times na nawawala kami sa laro,” said Madayag. “Iba na ang mindset ngayon and we really worked as a team today.”
The victory sets up another knockout showdown for Choco Mucho against Akari on Saturday, with a shot at one of the last two semifinal berths at stake.
Earlier, the Titans leaned on Laure’s spark to force a fifth set – the conference’s 12th – before taking early control in the decider. Laure struck first, and a net fault by Thea Gagate handed them a quick 2-0 edge.
From there, Choco Mucho never looked back. Rondina and Madayag combined for a blistering run that stretched the lead to 8-2, with Rondina attacking from both wings and Madayag dominating the middle and with slide attacks.
ZUS Coffee faltered under pressure, struggling on both ends before mounting a late push behind Kate Santiago to close the gap to 9-12. But Deanna Wong delivered a crucial joust win, and Tolentino followed with a clutch kill to steady the Titans before Rondina slammed the door shut.
It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Thunderbelles, who came within a set of redemption after a shaky preliminary campaign. Riza Nogales led the squad with 16 points, while Gagate added 12. Cess Robles, Chinnie Arroyo, and Santiago chipped in nine points apiece.
Choco Mucho, meanwhile, lived to fight another day – battle-tested, unbroken, and just two wins away from the semis.
