Despite failing to reach the podium in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Choco Mucho believes that, had it not been for the unexpected hurdles throughout the six-month-long tournament, it could have performed better.
The Flying Titans fell short against the Akari Chargers in the battle for third place, losing in the do-or-die Game 3, 15-25, 24-26, 24-26, on Saturday at the packed Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
“Actually, masaya pa rin naman kami sa naging performance namin kasi based doon sa naging performance namin last year, hanggang sa bago kami dumating dito, talagang sobrang thankful ako sa players ko. Talagang nag-respond sila kung anong gusto naming gawin sa loob ng court,” said Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“Hindi lang talaga namin inaasahan na bigla na lang every time na meron kaming crucial game na kailangan namin ng mga tao, nababawasan kami or nagkakaroon ng problema,” he added.
The Flying Titans entered the December holiday break with a 4-3 record, sitting in the middle of the standings. However, upon the resumption of games, they faced another setback when star opposite hitter Kat Tolentino was ruled out indefinitely due to a ruptured appendix.
Despite this, Choco Mucho found a way forward, with Dindin Santiago-Manabat stepping up and delivering key performances at critical moments, leading the team to four straight wins to finish the preliminary round at 8-3 and secure the fifth seed.
The Flying Titans then swept the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the best-of-three quarterfinals, advancing to the round-robin semifinals, where disaster struck once more.
(C) PVL Images
Already without Tolentino, the team lost another key player as Manabat went down with a knee sprain, sidelining her for the rest of the conference. This forced Alinsunurin to gamble by shifting Royse Tubino to the opposite position, despite her being a natural outside hitter.
Des Cheng was also limited to a service specialist role, while Mean Mendrez and Aduke Ogunsanya were still regaining their form after returning from injuries.
“Yung mindset namin talaga is kahit natalo kami nung battle for third, alam namin sa sarili namin na kaya namin pero talagang kinulang lang sa pagkakataon kaya hindi namin nakuha yung game na yun,” Alinsunurin said.
“At least nakita namin yung nagiging problema namin para pagdating ng new conference, mas pagbubutihan pa namin at imamindset na talaga namin na every time na may sitwasyon, kailangan lahat mag-step up hindi lang anim o pitong player na nasa loob ng court.”
With personnel challenges contributing to their struggles late in the conference, Alinsunurin is already looking ahead to the rookie draft.
Unlike in the inaugural draft, when the Flying Titans selected only one player in the first round (Lorraine Pecaña, 11th pick) before passing in the subsequent rounds, this time they are aiming to fill multiple gaps with the upcoming rookies.
(C) PVL Images
“Well, ang mangyayari talaga kung ano yung nagiging problema namin sa bawat game, like opposite, kailangan talaga namin kumuha. Kasi hindi pa rin namin alam kung ano yung magiging sitwasyon ni Kat kung babalik ba siya,” said Alinsunurin.
“Siguro mas marami kaming makukuha na bata para maging maayos yung takbo ng laro every time na may mga sitwasyon. Baka marami na kaming kunin para mapaghandaan talaga ‘yung nagiging problema namin pagdating sa mga dulo.”
#WATCH: “ALAM NAMIN NA KAYA NAMIN, PERO KINULANG.” 💔
Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin opens up on the tough All-Filipino campaign and how injuries took their toll 🏐
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