Choco Mucho middle blocker Maddie Madayag isn’t dwelling on her record-tying 10-block performance, choosing instead to focus on the next challenge after her team’s stinging four-set loss to ZUS Coffee in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
“You’re only as good as your last game. So I can’t really bring that to the next game,” said Madayag.
The former PVL Best Middle Blocker delivered a standout individual performance despite the loss. She finished with a team-best 18 points as the Flying Titans fell short against league-leading Thunderbelles, 20-25, 22-25, 26-24, 19-25, at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Madayag’s 10 kill blocks in the loss tied the professional league single-game record, previously set by Riri Meneses while playing for Petro Gazz in a 25-17, 25-18, 25-17 win over Perlas during the 2021 PVL Open Conference in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte on July 30.
The 27-year-old Ateneo product stressed that her record-tying performance is now behind her, since she can’t dwell on past games. Instead, she needs to focus on what she can contribute to the team’s upcoming matches.
(C) PVL Images
“I’m always just doing my job on the court, so it’s done. I don’t think those 10 blocks will carry over to the next game because it’s already in the past,” said Madayag, who also holds the UAAP single-game record for blocks with 11.
“Trabaho lang naman talaga and kung ano ‘yung maco-contribute ko sa team, ‘yun lang,” she added.
The loss, in which they battled the league’s hottest squad but ultimately came up short, made Choco Mucho’s path to the quarterfinals even steeper. They dropped to 2-4, keeping them in ninth place after their third consecutive defeat of the tournament.
Though the Flying Titans showed flashes of their potential, Madayag emphasized that maintaining focus and the right mindset will be crucial as they face must-win games to keep their playoff hopes alive.
“I wouldn’t say we played that great today, but we have shown snippets of how we really play. So I think it’s a matter of how we’re gonna figure out how to play like ourselves again,” said Madayag, who is in her first conference back in the league following a stint in the Japan SV.League.
“Like I said in my interview kanina, I think it’s just a matter of wanting to win again. ‘Yung want talaga na gusto mong manalo, so I think ‘yun lang din naman ‘yung nawala. Kasi skill wise, okay naman kami. System’s good, it’s just siguro ‘yung character namin inside the court.”
Choco Mucho must win its remaining games against defending champion Creamline (November 13) and Akari (November 18) to keep its quarterfinal hopes alive.
