BOUNCING back from a five-set defeat, Choco Mucho turned back Akari last night, scoring a 25-18, 25-22, 27-29, 25-19 victory to force a sudden-death match for third in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Flying Titans came out with fire and focus, riding Sisi Rondina’s explosive outing and crucial support from Royse Tubino to stay in medal contention.
Rondina, the league’s scoring leader, had 26 points, all but one on attacks, while Tubino delivered in the clutch, especially in the decisive fourth frame.
Akari seemed poised to replicate its Game 1 comeback after stealing the extended third set 29-27 but Choco Mucho held its ground.
The Flying Titans went into the match still smarting from a 24-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25, 15-11 defeat last Tuesday.
If Petro Gazz clinches the championship against Creamline in Game 2 of the Finals being played at presstime, the Flying Titans take home the bronze with superior match points. If Creamline forces a Game 3, Choco Mucho and Akari will battle it out once again on Saturday.
“We knew what needed to be done,” said Rondina. “We just followed our coach’s program, stuck to our plays, talked to each other, and focused on our individual roles.”
Clinging to a 14-11 edge, the Flying Titans unleashed a clutch 4-0 run, sparked by Rondina’s relentless attacks, scoring on back-to-back hits. Mars Alba then delivered a pinpoint ace and Royse Tubino capped it off with a sharp cross-court kill, stretching their lead to 17-11.
The Chargers made one final push, with Steph Bustrillo, Ivy Lacsina and Eli Soyud combining for a 4-1 rally that trimmed the deficit to 19-23.
But they fell short, as Rondina slammed the door shut with back-to-back kills, putting the exclamation point on Choco Mucho’s bounce-back win that snapped a four-game losing streak.
“Sa wakas, nanalo din kami ngayon (mula semis) tsaka itong battle for third. Sobrang, alam mo ‘yun, sobrang down talaga kami nung pagkatalo namin sa semis na alam namin na may chance kami, pero hindi natin masabi dahil talagang bago kami pumunta ng semis, talagang nagkulang nanaman yung player namin, nagkulang kami,” said Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“Pero syempre, hindi ko namang kailangan doon sisihin – ang importante lang ngayon, naka-recover kami, and sana magtuloy-tuloy kami sa Game 3 namin, sa panalo ngayon,” he added.
Rondina, coming off an 18-point performance in Game 1, elevated her game, leading Choco Mucho to a gritty and hard-fought victory.
