Ever since Dante Alinsurin took over Choco Mucho before the start of the Premier Volleyball League 2023 season, all eyes have been on him.
Ever since Sisi Rondina joined the Flying Titans in the Invitationals, all eyes have been on her.
And deservingly so.
Alinsunurin is a decorated tactician in the men’s side at the school level, national level, and international level having led the Philippines to the 30th Southeast Asian Games silver medal.
Meanwhile, Rondina has been a proven fighter since her collegiate days at University of Santo Tomas and her beach volleyball career.
On Thursday, Choco Mucho went point-for-point with PLDT, emerging on top after five sets, 25-20, 23-25, 18-25, 25-17, 15-12 to clinch the team’s first semifinals appearance since the 2022 Open.
With all eyes on them, Alinsunurin and Rondina deflected the credit to those who had been in the Flying Titans’ camp longer than they were.
“Sa akin kasi bago ko pasukin ito yun yung naging mindset ko yung makatulong talaga [sa] team na mapuntahan ko. Thankful ako dahil sa naging sitwasyon pero syempre dahil din naman sa mga players and coaches na tumutulong sa amin na makuha ‘tong semis,” said the calm tactician.
“Ako personally, hindi ko masasabi na dahil sa akin or what. I think it’s the players sa team na hindi lang personal, pero yung mindset nila na to raise the team, na makapasok and syempre, alam mo yung magbubunga yung mga tinatrabaho namin kasi honestly, nakakapagod,” said the explosive spiker out of Cebu.
It was not the best of starts for them. The Flying Titans finished seventh in both the First AFC and the Invitationals but this time, it is a different story.
After losing its first match of the Second AFC against Creamline, Choco Mucho racked up eight straight wins for an 8-1 record and a spot in the playoffs.
And it needed an epic five-set match as the Flying Titans stormed back from huge deficits in the fourth and fifth frames to get the emotional win.
PLDT zoomed to a 5-0 start in the decider but Alinsunurin, to the surprise of some, did not call a timeout despite his team facing a big hole.
“Sa akin hindi na ako nagisip na magtimeout ang sabi ko lang kailangan ko lang magtiwala sa players ko binibigyan ko sila ng instructions,” said Alinsunurin, who is also an Air Force personnel.
“Sa bandang huli kahit umabot ng lima yung lamang sa amin di talaga ako tumime out kasi gusto ko yung sila talaga magbigay ng solusyon sa ginagawa namin sa loob ng court.”
Rondina played a significant role in their fightback, which also includes a 7-1 deficit in the fourth, finishing with 20 points while also getting major productions from Maddie Madayag with 18, Isa Molde with 15, and Caitlin Viray with 10.
The 5-foot-6 spiker, coming into this game, was the league’s fourth-best scorer with 141 points. Before signing with Choco Mucho last conference, she focused on the sands for four years.
But ever the professional, Rondina made sure to be at her best every day.
“Ako, alam niyo naman na kung ano yung binibigay na opportunity sakin, niyayakap ko and every time na may commitments ako… pinapakita ko talaga kung gaano ko kamahal and gaano kaimportante yung binibigay na trabaho sa akin,” said the UAAP Season 81 MVP.
“I’m so grateful sa team na to kasi maganda yung welcome sa amin ni Coach Dante and ayun, sana magtuloy tuloy hanggang semifinals.”
