Since the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, Kat Tolentino has been coming off the bench for Choco Mucho, hardly getting any playing time.
The same situation occurred in the Flying Titans’ first game of the Second All-Filipino Conference last Sunday against Creamline, resulting in an 18-25, 16-25, 26-24, 25-21 defeat at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Cailtin Viray was Choco Mucho’s starting opposite spiker on Thursday against Farm Fresh, helping her team secure a 2-0 set advantage, 25-18, 25-13. Dominating the game, head coach Dante Alinsunurin decided to field the 6-foot-2 hitter in the third set, and she produced immediately.
Tolentino scored four points in that set as the Flying Titans secured the sweep with a 25-17 third frame, ending the Foxies’ hopes in just 70 minutes.
Alinsunurin mentioned that despite Tolentino’s limited playing time since the last conference, he is confident that she will always be ready when her number is called.
“Sa akin kasi, ready naman lagi si Kat,” said Alinsunurin, a decorated coach in the men’s division.
“Sinasabi ko lang lagi sa kanya hintayin lang niya ‘yung time kasi ‘yung chance ay darating at darating kung kailangan ng team.”
Tolentino admitted that when she was told to enter the game, she was excited to perform. The product of Ateneo de Manila University had previously been a two-time Best Opposite Spiker in the PVL.
“I think I was a bit excited. I had a lot of adrenaline going into the game, and I was confident,” shared Tolentino.
“It was great that I was able to contribute.”
Playing Tolentino for the entire third set, Alinsunurin teased that this is just the beginning for her, and she will see more playing time in the upcoming games. The Flying Titans’ next game is scheduled for next Thursday against Cignal at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, patience lang, at sabi ko nga, bago naman itong laro na ito sabi ko ready na siya sa susunod na game namin,” said Alinsunurin.
“Importante masimulan siya ngayon kung ano man ‘yung kaya niyang gawin sa susunod na laro.”
