STA. ROSA — Choco Mucho left no room for doubt about its dominance over Galeries Tower, delivering a resounding 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 victory, marking its third consecutive win following an initial loss in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference eliminations at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex here on Thursday.
The Flying Titans outperformed the Highrisers in the first set, outplayed them in the next, then rallied from an early deficit with a surge midway through the third frame before thwarting the latter at the endgame to complete the one-hour, 32-minute victory. This win comes after posting a pair of 3-0 romps, the last one against the Cignal HD Spikers last week.
The long break didn’t seem to affect the Flying Titans, who continued to elevate their game after a four-set defeat to the Creamline Cool Smashers on October 15. They now join the Chery Tiggo Crossovers and the PLDT High Speed Hitters at third place with 3-1 win-loss records.
Galeries Tower absorbed its fourth straight loss, falling into a tie with Gerflor.
While Sisi Rondina delivered another 16-point game marked by highlight-reel spikes, Regine Arocha grabbed the spotlight in the absence of injured Des Cheng and a couple more teammates, scoring eight points while starting for the team for the first time in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
“Ginawa ko lang yung mga pinapagawa sa amin sa training, pero alam kong marami pa akong dapat ayusin at madaming pagkukulang na dapat ayusin,” said Arocha, who also finished with seven excellent receptions. “Ibibigay ko pa rin ang aking best sa mga susunod na laban at magtatrabaho sa practice.”
“Sinabi ko sa kanila na kailangan nating magtrabaho nang mabuti, ayusin ang ating mga laro, at tayo ang may kontrol sa laro,” said Rondina, who also made 10 excellent digs and seven receptions in a superb all-around performance.
Caitlin Viray supported Rondina with 11 points, while Bea de Leon also stepped up in the absence of Maddie Madayag, contributing 10 markers, including back-to-back quick attacks off Deanna Wong’s brilliant plays that made it 22-18 for Choco Mucho in the third set.
“May ilang mga problema pa kami pero nakukuha na namin yung kumpiyansa… na kahit sino ang tawagin natin mula sa bench, kaya niya,” said Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin.
Aduke Ogunsanya added four points, while Maika Ortiz, Kat Tolentino, and Wong chipped in two points each.
Rap Aguilar scored seven points, while Ysa Jimenez and Norielle Ipac matched five-point outputs. Joy Doromal, Grazielle Bombita, and Audrey Paran finished with four points each for the Highrisers, who kept it close in the first and third sets but just couldn’t match up to the Flying Titans’ firepower and endgame savvy.
Choco Mucho recorded 45 attack points against Galleries’ 28, with the Flying Titans also scoring six aces against the Highrisers’ one. Wong also finished with 14 excellent sets in another fine display of playmaking.
