Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin’s gamble paid off as Royse Tubino delivered in the outside hitter position in the Flying Titans’ first-ever franchise victory over Creamline in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals.
A set away from defeat, Alinsunurin mixed things up in the third set and shifted Tubino, who was filling in for Kat Tolentino in the starting opposite spot, to her natural position as an outside hitter, while Isa Molde, a defensive-minded open spiker, took over right-side duties.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Siguro kumuha lang ako ng timing kung ano pa pwede naming gawin this game. Sabi ko kailangan naming magbalasa kung saan kami mataas. Kaya siguro lumakas lang ‘yung loob ko nung nakuha namin ‘yung third set,” shared Alinsunurin.
“Sabi ko tuloy na natin, gawin na nating outside hitter si Royse (Tubino), kasi ‘yun naman talaga natural position niya. Akala ko mababaliktad ‘yung porsyento ni Isa (Molde), pero mas nakatulong pa siya pag dumidipensa talaga siya,” he continued.
Following the adjustment, the Flying Titans rolled from there and turned back the Cool Smashers in five sets, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16, for a victorious opener in the round-robin semifinals.
Tubino delivered 20 points, 18 of which came from attacks, to go along with 12 excellent digs while Molde chimed in with 13 points as the third leading scorer for the Flying Titans in the two-hour, 30-minute encounter.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Sa sitwasyon na ‘yun, talagang bago naman gawin namin ‘yun, sinabihan ko na rin ‘yung mga players ko dati pa na even then, si Isa, pagpasok ko pa lang sa team, talagang sabi ko, kailangan mong pumosisyon dito sa opposite, ‘di lang outside,” said Alinsunurin.
Alinsunurin credited his coaching staff as well for providing him with sound guidance throughout the entirety of the crucial affair.
“Sobrang naging maganda ‘yung decision-making namin, ‘di lang ako, pati ‘yung mga coaches na kasama ko, talagang pinag-usapan namin ‘yung dapat na gawin kasi kasama talaga sa ganitong sitwasyon ‘yung mga coaches ko kailangan ko makasama rin,” said Alinsunurin.
Tubino deflected praise as well, thanking Alinsunurin and her teammates for trusting her especially in such a high-stakes game.
“Kini-credit ko ‘yung win namin kay Coach Dante sa pag-adjust niya. Kasi sa third set, ginawa akong open (hitter) saka ‘yung mga teammates ko sa walang sawang pagintindi at mahabang pasensya talaga,” said the veteran spiker.
“Kaya nakuha namin itong panalo sa Creamline kasi ang hirap ‘tong Creamline na ‘to, ang hirap niyang i-beat pero sa tulong ng mga teammates, coaches, nag-isa kami kaya nanalo kami.”
