Choco Mucho overcame a tough stand from Black Mamba-Army in the third set to close out the straight-sets win, 25-13, 25-11, 25-23 in its 2022 Premiere Volleyball League Open Conference debut, Friday at the Paco Arena and Sports Center.
Choco Mucho’s depth was in full display in the match with new recruits Des Cheng, Aduke Ogunsanya, Chery Nunag, Isa Molde already making valuable contributions as early as the team’s first game.
“The tournament is very short so every game is really a must-win,” said Flying Titans head coach Oliver Almadro. “Thank God He gave us the strength para manalo dito sa first game namin. Yun nga, we’ll take it one game at a time, yun ang importante, one game at a time.”
Kat Tolentino, who only played in the first two sets, topped the scoring column for the Flying Titans with 11 points while Deanna Wong steered the balanced offensive attack with 22 excellent sets along with two points.
Ponggay Gaston contributed eight markers and nine excellent digs while Caitlyn Viray and the debuting Cheng had seven and six points, respectively.
Nunag and Molde had five each while Ogunsanya had two markers in their first game in a Choco Mucho jersey.
“Good thing naman sa team ko they’re open to their roles no matter what. Short or long playing time, they know what’s their role and wala sa aming short lang playing time mo or long playing time mo basta you know your roles and whoever we pick, when your number is called dapat you are ready to deliver,” Almadro said.
Down by a point, Gaston atoned for getting blocked in the previous possession, scoring a down-the-line attack to lock the scores at 22 in the third set.
Viray then followed it up with an off-the-block hit before Ging Balse-Pabayo knotted the scores at 23. Viray put the Flying Titans at match-point off a ball touch.
A drop from Wong then ended the match at its 76th minute.
The Lady Troopers — who dropped to a 0-2 slate in Group A — were led by Villareal and Audrey Paran with seven points each.
Choco Mucho will return on Sunday against Chery Tiggo at 6:00 PM while Army looks to pick up its first win against the defending champions on Tuesday also at 6:00 PM.
