Choco Mucho’s seven-game winning streak in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference just proved how deep the Flying Titans’ bench is.
In one way or another, the players whom head coach Dante Alinsunurin called from the bench during the streak have delivered, contributing to Choco Mucho’s resurgence.
At 7-1, the Flying Titans are tied for second place with Chery Tiggo.
“Sa ngayon, kailangan talaga namin yun. Sa ganitong liga talaga medyo mahaba, kailangan talaga namin ma-practice lahat eh,” said Alinsunurin on Tuesday.
“Importante kung ano yung pinapagawa namin sa first six, kailangan pati yung second six kailangan rin gawin nila.”
In Tuesday’s game against F2 Logistics, it was Caitlin Viray’s turn to shine off the bench.
She was the starting opposite spiker for the Flying Titans at the beginning of the conference before Kat Tolentino reassumed that position.
In less than three sets of action, starting only in the fourth frame, Viray contributed eight points as Choco Mucho beat the Cargo Movers 19-25, 25-8, 25-17, 25-19 at the Philsports Arena.
“Swerte pa rin dahil nakita namin na kahit sinong bunutin namn, kung sino yung kunin naman sa labas nagde-deliver,” continued Alinsunurin, who took over the team just this season.
“Kaya nga sobrang ganda na ng ginagalaw ng team namin kasi lahat kasi yung mindset talaga is gusto namin manalo every game.”
During the Flying Titans’ third game of the conference, open spiker Des Cheng tore her ACL in the right knee, causing her to miss the rest of the season.
Isa Molde then started in her position for the remaining games, except for one.
Against F2 Logistics, Molde shone with a 13-point effort along with 14 digs.
Despite achieving an outstanding record with only three games left to play, Molde and Viray are not looking too far ahead and are not resting on their laurels.
“Ngayon po, siguro po hindi po talaga namin iniisip yung mga finals finals. Nag-one game at a time kami ngayon,” said Molde, noting that they still have to face PLDT, Gerflor, and Chery Tiggo.
“Sa amin, yung sinabi nga ng coaches last game, wag kaming makuntento so nandoon yung eagerness syempre mas doble yung trabaho namin para makarating rin dun,” added Viray.
