Flying Titans soar to fourth straight win

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By Abby Toralba

WITH setter Deanna Wong orchestrating their plays, Choco Mucho extended its winning streak to four yesterday by scoring a 25-11, 25-20, 25-19 decision over Nxled in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Wong set the tone for the Flying Titans with 20 excellent sets while Cherry Ann Rondina shone with 16 points, 12 excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions.

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Isa Molde had nine markers along with six excellent receptions while Kat Tolentino and Aduke Ogunsanya had a combined 12 points.

The Flying Titans used a strong start to take command then unleashed a strong finishing kick in the third to complete their fourth-straight shutout victory after dropping a four-set defeat to the Creamline Cool Smashers last Oct. 15.

“Lagi namang pinapaalala ni coach Dante (Alinsunurin) sa mga players na importante ‘yung sistema,” said Choco Mucho assistant coach Jessie Lopez, who filled in for their head mentor in the post-match interview.

“Kailangan naming mag-adjust sa lahat ng sitwasyon, every set kasi siyempre iba’t-iba ang kalaban, iba’t-iba ang kilos. Doon pumapasok ‘yung scouting at pina-paaral talaga ni coach (Dante) kung sino ang makakalaban namin sa susunod,” Lopez added.

The third set looked headed to a wild finish as Camille Victoria scored on a push to put the Chameleons back to within one 18-19 and then leveled the count with a two-handed dump.

But like in a number of Nxled stretch-run meltdowns in previous matches, the Chameleons came up short again, failing to match the Flying Titans’ scorching windup as Kat Tolentino banged in an unmolested spike that hit Regina Mangulablan’s face, forcing the former to cross to the other side to apologize.

Isa Molde, however, had other things in mind.

The former UP stalwart countered with back-to-back points on an off-the-block hit and a drop ball and Tolentino scored again from the backrow before Aduke Ogunsanya put the Flying Titans at match point with a dump.

The Chameleons tried to stave off the impending defeat by battling their fancied rivals to a series of exchanges but Sisi Rondina’s rather feeble backrow attack hit the top of the net before dropping into an unguarded spot in the middle of Nxled’s fort, ending the 73-minute contest.

The Flying Titans finished with 47 attack points against the Chameleons’ 33, and though the latter came up with more blocks, 6-3, they yielded too many unforced errors, which translated into 24 points for Choco Mucho.

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