Choco Mucho faces a crucial challenge in their do-or-die match against PLDT in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference this Thursday, but they will be without a key member of their team.
Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin will not be present for the match at the Filoil EcoOil Centre due to his commitments with Alas Pilipinas Men.
Alinsunurin is currently in Indonesia, leading the Nationals in the second leg of the 2024 Men’s Southeast Asia V.League.
In his absence, assistant coach Edjet Mabbayad will take the helm for the Rebisco-backed squad.
The stakes are high for Choco Mucho, as their quarterfinal hopes hinge on the outcome of this match against the High Speed Hitters.
Currently trailing Farm Fresh, who holds the eighth spot with a 3-5 win-loss record and eight points, the Flying Titans need a victory to advance to the playoffs.
They currently hold a 2-5 record but can surpass the Foxies with a win, gaining at least nine points—enough to secure the final quarterfinal berth.
However, a loss would end their playoff aspirations and hand Farm Fresh the last spot in the quarterfinals, which are set to begin on Saturday.
The Flying Titans are determined to avoid a repeat of their disappointing finish in the 2023 Invitational Conference, where they missed the playoffs for the first time, finishing seventh and ending their streak of back-to-back silver medal campaigns.
