Though Choco Mucho captain Bea De Leon downplayed it, there is still a part of each member of the Flying Titans that wanted to get back to the team that eliminated them last year in Chery Tiggo.
And in their first meeting in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League season, Choco Mucho had to dig deep against the defending champions.
In an early-season classic, Choco Mucho and Chery Tiggo exchanged blows up that resulted in a fifth set.
Even in the decider, neither the Flying Titans nor the Crossovers wanted to give an inch.
With Chery Tiggo up 13-11, Kat Tolentino took charge scoring three consecutive points to put Choco Mucho at match-point. However, Dindin Santiago-Manabat answered with an off-the-block to send the game to a deuce.
Bea De Leon scored a quick to once again put the Flying Titans a point away from the win, but a service error from Choco Mucho locked the game at 15.
De Leon fired a quick once again, but Santiago-Manabat negated the point for another deuce. Consecutive attack errors from Mylene Paat and Shaya Adorador sealed the 18-16 win for the Rebisco-backed squad.
And there were all sorts of relief afterward for Choco Mucho.
“I thank my players for following the gameplan, especially in the endgame,” expressed Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro. “I’d also like to commend Chery Tiggo. They came from two losses pero sobrang hirap ng game na ito. Good thing, Kat delivered and we delivered at the right time.”
“I’m just in shock,” added Tolentino, who had 23 points in the contest. “Knowing this team, we are new and we have a lot of new players. It showed our character, we worked together.
“As in, I felt everyone contributing and I’m just so thankful I can trust my teammates, look at them in the fifth set, and know that they had my back and I had theirs.”
Though Tolentino was the leading scorer, there were a lot of heroes for Choco Mucho in the contest.
The twin towers of Cherry Nunag and Aduke Ogunsanya got 10 points each. Des Cheng was continued her stellar start, finishing with nine points, 17 digs, and 12 receptions. De Leon also delivered in the clutch.
“Twenty-three points? I’m expecting thirty!” quipped Almadro about Tolentino’s scoring. “I mean it’s normal for Kat to have points like that but I’d also like to commend her teammates because it would not have been possible for Kat to deliver like that.
“Yan ang maganda sa team namin ngayon because everyone is doing and happy with their roles.”
More than the win and exacting vengeance on their tormentors, the 27-year-old Tolentino, who is the reigning Best Opposite Spiker, believes that this victory was important for them moving forward as it hastened the growth and maturity of the retooled Flying Titans.
“It’s a good win but the tournament is not yet over — it’s just the second game. It feels like it is such a great win but of course, we still have a lot to work on. It’s just a great start and from here, just keep on improving,” she said.
“I could say that this team is still working on its chemistry but this game built our character. Every Choco Mucho team I’ve been in, I’m just focusing on doing my role and this team has helped me in it. Everyone’s helping in digging, spiking, blocking, it’s not just me. Just thankful that they are my teammates.”
