Choco Mucho gave national team member Maddie Madayag a triumphant return as they ran roughshod over Bali Pure Purest Water Defenders, 25-16, 25-12, 25-16, in the 2019 PVL Open Conference, Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Flying Titans banked on a dominant surge in the opening set to coast to the lopsided win.
Choco Mucho also showed a glimpse of its optimum potential when Kat Tolentino, Madayag, and Bea De Leon shared the court. The hard-hitting troika engineered a 20-11 cushion in the decisive third set that put the Flying Titans in the lead for good.
Tolentino — who rained down a personal and conference-high 36 points in Choco Mucho’s win over Chef’s Classics last Saturday — scintillated anew. The former Ateneo Lady Eagle fired 14 points laced with 10 excellent digs to post a double-double in a winning effort.
Madayag announced her return from her tour of national duty in the ASEAN Grand Prix. She powered 11 points off of 10 attacks. Shannen Palec chimed in nine markers, three of which coming from kill blocks.
Meanwhile, De Leon played sparingly, but she made sure to make her presence felt. The fleet-footed middle blocker nailed the match-clinching kill to finish with two points.
Choco Mucho playmaker AC Masangkay tossed 17 excellent sets while defensive specialist Bang Pineda collected 29 excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
“This team is very young and they have to have mature thinking inside the court. We have to continue learning every match. Sabi ko nga every practice, every match we have to continue learning,” Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro said as his side rose to 4-6.
“We have to accept na hindi pa tayo katibay but we’re going there basta continue learning and aim at what is above always,” he added.
On the other hand, the Water Defenders slid to a dismal 2-10 slate.
Menchie Tubiera poured in nine attacks and a pair of kill blocks for 11 points. She also had 15 excellent receptions in a losing cause.
Bali Pure skipper Grazielle Bombita scattered eight markers, 11 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs that went down the drain.
Choco Mucho looks to keep its hot streak rolling when it faces PacificTown-Army on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bali Pure seeks to quench its long drought when it squares off against winless Chef’s Classics on Saturday. Both matches will be played at the same venue.
