Choco Mucho inched closer to returning to the finals after sending Chery Tiggo to the brink, 25-20, 25-19, 25-23, to remain the only unbeaten in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, Thursday at the Philsports Arena.
The 1-2 punch of Sisi Rondina and Royse Tubino came through once again for the Flying Titans, who zoomed to the number one spot with a 2-0 record after the 93-minute victory over the struggling Crossovers.
“Sa ngayon, syempre importante talaga yung bawat game namin tapos sabi ko sa players ko kailangan all out lagi,” said Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
After breezing past the first two sets, the Flying Titans met more resistance in the third frame but managed to escape Chery Tiggo through the heroics of Tubino.
Tubino scored three consecutive points to stretch a 20-19 advantage to four, 23-19, before Eya Laure and EJ Laure connived in a 3-0 run to tie cut the lead back to just one point.
The veteran opposite spiker hammered one off-the-block to push Choco Mucho at match point, but the younger Laure answered back with a cross-court hit. In an anti-climactic finish, Pauline Gaston committed a service error which spelled doom for the Crossovers.
“Sobrang thankful sa naging performance namin kahit medyo nag-off yung ginagawa namin (like) sa transition namin pero ayun nga, may kasama naring swerte. Mas maraming naging unforced error yung Chery Tiggo kaya mas namamaximize namin sa pagdating dulo,” added Alinsunurin.
Rondina fired 18 points, all of which came from attacks, to go along with 14 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions while Tubino poured 17 points on 15 attacks and two blocks.
Mars Alba delivered 14 excellent sets to go along with two points while Thang Ponce tallied 25 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
Choco Mucho looks to officially enter the finale on Sunday, 6:00 p.m. against Petro Gazz at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the other hand, Chery Tiggo dropped to 0-2 and is now in danger of missing the finale.
Cza Carandang led the way for the Crossovers with 10 points. EJ Laure scored just nine points to go along with 11 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions while Eya Laure added nine markers as well to go along with nine excellent receptions.
Chery Tiggo will try to salvage its campaign earlier today against defending champion Creamline at 4:00 p.m.
