Dante Alinsunurin urged Choco Mucho to forget their Game 1 loss to Creamline and focus entirely on bouncing back in the do-or-die Game 2 of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals.
The Flying Titans had an impressive start but fell short in the next three sets, resulting in a 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16 defeat against the Cool Smashers, putting them in a difficult position, on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Una, sabi ko sa mga players, wag nating dalhin yung nangyari today. Kung ano man yung nangyari sa laro namin, iwan na namin sa dugout namin,” said Alinsunurin.
“Kasi mahirap bumangon sa ganitong sitwasyon na alam namin na kami yung challenger dito, Creamline yung defending. Importante sa amin na mag-mindset ulit kami pagdating bukas,” he added.
Alinsunurin stated that Choco Mucho would immediately return to the drawing board to address their late-game struggles.
The Flying Titans managed to establish significant leads in the second and third sets but couldn’t maintain them, succumbing to the Cool Smashers in the latter part, which proved decisive in the opening game of the title series.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Trabahuin ulit namin kung ano yung naging problema namin. Sabi ko nga, yung pagkukulang namin sa sets ng endgame, yun yung kailangan naming pag-usapan. Ano yung adjustment namin para ma-maximize namin sa ganung sitwasyon,” said Alinsunurin.
While the team was clearly disheartened after the loss, Alinsunurin shared that the coaching staff and management were able to communicate what needed to be done for Choco Mucho to bounce back and even the series.
“Nung una, bago pumasok, siyempre tahimik sila. Nanghihinayang kami sa nangyari, kasi meron kaming mga set na kami yung nagse-set ng tempo, medyo sa huli lang ano. After naman kami nag-huddle with the guys, yung management din, yung coaches nagsalita, naintindihan nila na kailangan talaga namin bumalik talaga,” he said.
“Yun, siguro, paglabas ng mga players kanina, naiwan na talaga yung nangyari kasi sobrang nanghihinayang, pero sabi ko, hindi pa naman tapos yung series. Importante lang makabalik kami at trabahuin namin sa Sunday.”
