2025 was shaping up to be Choco Mucho’s year. After the holiday break in the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, the Flying Titans went on a blistering nine-game winning streak.
That fiery run catapulted them to a fifth-place finish in the eliminations with an 8-3 record, before they swept the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the quarterfinals to enter the semifinals as the hottest team in the league.
But the new year had a cruel twist in store.
Injuries suddenly struck the squad—Dindin Manabat and Maika Ortiz were the latest casualties, joining Kat Tolentino on the sidelines. And with that, the Titans’ red-hot streak came to a screeching halt.
They didn’t win a single game in the round-robin semifinals. Then they lost Game 1 of their bronze medal series against Akari, marking their fourth straight defeat—an astonishing turnaround from how they started the year.
But on Thursday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Flying Titans finally remembered how to win. Choco Mucho outlasted the Akari Chargers, 25-18, 25-22, 27-29, 25-19, to tie the best-of-three battle-for-third series at one game apiece.
“Sa wakas, nanalo din kami ngayon,” said head coach Dante Alinsunurin, visibly relieved.
“Mula semis saka itong battle for third… Sobrang, alam mo yun, sobrang down talaga kami nung sa pagkatalo namin sa semis na alam namin na may chance kami. Pero hindi natin masabi dahil talagang bago kami pumunta ng semis, talagang nagkulang na naman yung player namin, nagkulang kami, pero syempre hindi ko namang kailangan doon sisihin– ang importante lang ngayon naka-recover kami and sana magtuloy-tuloy kami sa Game 3 namin, sa panalo ngayon,” added the soft-spoken tactician.
(C) PVL Images
It was a win that meant more than just extending the series. After two painful losses to Akari—first in the semifinals and then in Game 1—the Flying Titans finally found their footing.
In their semis clash, Akari snatched the win behind Eli Soyud’s explosive 34-point outing, sealing a 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 16-14 triumph at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Then, in Game 1 of the bronze series, Choco Mucho won the first two sets, only for Akari to storm back with three straight to complete a stunning 24-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25-18, 15-11 reverse sweep.
“Nakakamiss ‘yung ganitong feeling kasi simula nung semis, hindi kami nakatikim ng ganitong panalo,” said star outside hitter Sisi Rondina, who erupted for 26 points, along with nine digs and seven excellent receptions.
“As a captain naman, sinabi ko lang din talaga sa mga kasama ko na kaya nating agawin ‘yun, mag-trabaho lang kami. Huwag lang kaming titigil, isipin namin kung ano ‘yung mga nangyari sa team namin,” added the pride of Compostela, Cebu.
“Sabi nga namin magpatawas na kami kasi ang daming nangyayari pero despite sa mga nangyari sa team namin, ‘yung positive pa rin ‘yung iniisip ng team. Masaya ako kasi ganito pala ‘yung feeling. Nakakamiss.”
With Creamline also forcing a rubber match in the Finals, Game 3 of the Choco Mucho-Akari bronze showdown will be held this Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
There, the Flying Titans are ready to give it everything for a place on the podium.
“Sabi ko nga sa players ko kailangan lang talaga na yung communication nila sa loob ng court na every time na nagsa-struggle kami, laking bagay rin kanina, and siguro syempre pag-aralan ulit namin kung ano pa yung pwede naming ilamang in between match up and situation namin,” said Alinsunurin.
#WATCH: “SA WAKAS!”
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin and Sisi Rondina celebrate their breakthrough victory as they finally crack the Akari code 🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_/ Tiebreaker Times#PVL2025 pic.twitter.com/VnwkWId9Z1
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 10, 2025
