Lady luck finally smiled down on Choco Mucho after the Flying Titans finally put an end to its misery and snapped its harrowing 12-game losing streak at the hands of sister team and defending champion Creamline on Tuesday night.
Choco Mucho did in style as well, overcoming an early 0-2 deficit en route to a stunning 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16 victory over their long-time tormentors in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the Philsports Arena.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Finally lang, yun lang talaga kasi ilang conferences na namin silang pinaghandaan pero parang short kami pa lagi. But finally, grabe yung pinagdaanan namin. Although pangit yung first two sets namin, at least nakabawi kami,” said team captain Maddie Madayag, who has been with the team since its formation in 2019.
“And yun nga sabi ni Coach Dante, teamwork lang talaga and very grateful lang kami kay Lord. ‘Thank you Lord’ kami nang ‘Thank you Lord’ nila Mars kasi dami ng nagca-cramps, walang nai-injure samin, pero hindi niya kami pinabayaan and lumaban din naman talaga kami,” she added.
Madayag said that there were a lot of key factors in their first franchise victory over Creamline, which includes their recent finals match-up in the Second All-Filipino Conference and the addition of young setter Mars Alba and veteran opposite spiker Royse Tubino.
The 5-foot-11 middle blocker shared that their loss to the Cool Smashers in last conference’s finals gave them a deeper understanding of how they play, which they used as an edge in tonight’s triumph.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Siguro nakatulong din yung naging experience namin sa finals kalaban sila. Medyo nababasa na naman sila,” said the former Ateneo Blue Eagle.
“Of course yung additions namin, veterans, and setters grabe yung diskarte ni Mars (Alba) kanina. Kung kaya niyang mahatak ko yung mga middles, pinapamukha niya talagang ibibigay niya sakin pero ibabato niya kila ate Royse (Tubino),” she continued.
Tubino, who has been filling in for injured star Kat Tolentino, stepped up to the challenge and fired 20 points, 18 of which came from attacks, to go along with 12 excellent digs while Alba subbed in during the first set and changed the momentum for the Flying Titans, finishing with 10 excellent sets.
“Minsan kinukulang kami and ano na rin yun sa maturity nila kasi matagal na silang nasa taas. Kami paangat pa lang and yun lang, dagdag din talaga nila Ate Royse (Tubino) yung maturity.”
The 26-year-old middle blocker hopes that their historic victory over Creamline can provide them momentum as they head on to crucial battles against Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz in the round-robin semifinals.
“Kasi yun talaga yung kinulang samin kasi ‘di ba bago pa lang kami nung finals last conference. Yun yung wala kami, pero hopefully sana ma-sustain namin yung maturity and confidence namin as a team.”
