Courtesy: pvl.ph
CHOCO Mucho finally broke out of its slump – the hard way.
Drawing on composure forged through countless grind-out battles, the Flying Titans fought back from a 1-2 set deficit to outlast Galeries Tower, 26-24, 20-25, 22-25, 25-13, 15-12, and thrust themselves back into the semifinal conversation in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil Playtime Centre in San Juan late Thursday night.
It was a victory shaped not just by firepower, but by experience.
The Flying Titans fell behind 5-8 in the deciding set as the Highrisers, riding the momentum of Erika Deloria, Jean Asis and Gayle Pascual, threatened to pull off the upset. But instead of panicking, Choco Mucho leaned on its veteran core. With the returning Eya Laure, Kat Tolentino and Dindin Manabat providing stability on offense and the net defense tightening, the Titans responded with a decisive 10-4 closing run.
They saved their calmest moment for last.
Holding a slim 14-12 lead after Sisi Rondina delivered a signature soaring attack, Choco Mucho’s coaching staff halted a tense rally to challenge a potential net violation – a bold move that carried enormous risk. A failed challenge would have handed Galeries Tower a crucial point and renewed life.
But video review confirmed Pascual’s elbow grazed the net on her way down from a block attempt, sealing the victory in anti-climactic yet fitting fashion – through awareness, discipline and trust in the system.
The triumph marked Choco Mucho’s second win after absorbing three straight defeats that had cast doubt on its title aspirations. More importantly, it underscored the team’s maturity in pressure-packed situations – a trait that often separates contenders from pretenders in a tight semifinal race.
Laure made a resounding return with 18 points, while Rondina also churned out 18 markers in vintage form. Yet it was middle blocker Lorraine Pecaña who emerged as the steady anchor, tallying seven attack points, four blocks and four aces to earn Best Player of the Game honors in the two-hour, 10-minute marathon.
“Sobrang saya kasi ito na yung step para maibalik namin yung kumpiyansa. Sobrang proud ako sa panalo namin,” said Pecaña, who finished with 15 points.
Choco Mucho improved to 2-3, forging a tie for sixth place with Galeries Tower and Capital1 and tightening an already crowded semis chase.
Choco Mucho’s emphatic response in Set 4 not only forced a fifth set but also set the stage for the longest playdate of the four-week conference, after Capital1 Solar Spikers earlier outlasted Farm Fresh Foxies in another five-set thriller.
It was also the sixth match of the conference to go the full five sets, with Choco Mucho and Galeries Tower each accounting for two of those marathon contests, underscoring both teams’ resilience and penchant for tightly contested battles.
The Titans appeared poised to carry their dominant fourth-set momentum into the decider, but Galeries Tower struck first, building an 8-5 cushion at the changeover. Still, the seasoned Flying Titans never wavered. They answered with five straight points to seize control, absorbed the Highrisers’ counterpunches, and executed with precision down the stretch.
In a conference increasingly defined by endurance and nerve, Choco Mucho proved it still possesses both.
And when the match tightened to its most suffocating moments, the Flying Titans didn’t flinch – they trusted their experience to carry them through.
Manabat and Des Cheng provided solid support with 11 and 10 points, respectively, while Tolentino added nine as Choco Mucho asserted its offensive might. The Flying Titans overwhelmed the Highrisers in attacks, 65-50, and fired nine aces compared to their rivals’ five, repeatedly applying pressure from the service line.
Galeries Tower, however, made its presence felt at the net, finishing with 13 blocks – four more than Choco Mucho – to keep the contest tight. Still, the Titans’ decisive advantage in open play proved enough to offset their own inconsistencies. Choco Mucho surrendered 31 free points on errors and capitalized on just 24 from the Highrisers, but their sustained attacking edge ultimately tipped the balance.
Deloria erupted for a career-high 19 points and kept Galeries Tower in the hunt, though her stellar outing was dampened by a costly service error at a crucial juncture of the fifth set. Pascual backed her with 15 points, while setter Julia Coronel adopted an aggressive mindset and chipped in eight markers. Aiza Pontillas and Roselle Baliton contributed seven points each.
