BACARRA, ILOCOS NORTE — Choco Mucho fended off a pesky BaliPure squad in four sets, 25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, to remain undefeated in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center here on Friday.
Now with an immaculate 5-0 record, the Flying Titans forged a tie with Creamline at the number one spot.
Kim Gequillana committed a service error while Graze Bombita and Roselle Baliton followed it up with an ace and a hit to put BaliPure within one, 21-22, in the fourth set.
However, two consecutive errors from the side of the Water Defenders placed the Flying Titans at match-point.
Kat Tolentino then rose for a powerful off-the-block hit to end the match at 25-21.
“Alam mo naman BaliPure since the tournament started, they’re so resilient,” said Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro. “Yung hustle nila nandun. Kapag nagulat ka sa hustle nila, lalabas na dun cohesiveness ng team kung matagal na kami magkasama. Yun ang point dun.”
Tolentino posted a conference-best 25 points in the four-set outing to lead all scorers.
Bea De Leon chipped in 10 markers while Ponggay Gaston and Maddie Madayag added nine and eight points, respectively.
Veteran libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla manned the floor with 31 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions while Deanna Wong steered the offense with 17 excellent sets.
Choco Mucho took a tightly contested first set, 25-23, before surrendering the second frame 23-25, to a streaking BaliPure squad.
“BaliPure played well, na challenge kami and yun maganda sa mga player they accepted the challenge especially Kat [Tolentino] and Denden [Lazaro] so talagang marami pa ding bagay bagay na kailangang maging consistent and fluid pa,” he added.
A disrupted third set caused by a power interruption saw the Flying Titans burst to a 25-15 win for the 2-1 advantage.
Bombit top-scored for BaliPure with 15 points off 12 attacks and three aces while Geneveve Casugod and Bern Flora had 10 and eight, respectively.
The Water Defenders, who are coming off an embarrassing loss to Creamline, suffered their third loss for a 2-3 standing.
Both teams will return to court next week.
