Despite the crushing loss that ended Choco Mucho’s dream start in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, head coach Dante Alinsunurin chose to stick with the positives.
The Flying Titans looked to be on their way to a straight-set demise against PLDT after the first two sets were dominated by the High Speed Hitters.
Choco Mucho, led by Sisi Rondina and Kat Tolentino on offense and steadied by Thang Ponce on the defensive end, roared back in the next two to force a decider only to fall short, losing 25-20, 25-12, 23-25, 11-25, 15-13 on Tuesday night at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
“Ang nagustuhan ko dito yung ano, kahit na down na kami ng first and two sets talagang naibalik pa namin yung momentum namin sa laro. Yun lang yung talagang nagustuhan ko kasi nangyayari talaga eh. Pagdating kasi talaga sa liga na ‘to, ‘di ko pa na-experience yung ganung sitwasyon na na-down na, talagang tuloy tuloy eh,” said Alinsunurin, who is now in his second season as the team’s chief tactician.
“Buti nga kami kahit papaano nakausad kami ng dalawa. Although kinapos pa rin, pero sobrang sarap din ng pakiramdam sa nangyari dahil kung mangyayari ulit ‘to, alam na namin yung gagawin namin,” continued the soft-spoken coach.
PLDT was primed to end it in three frames after taking an 18-13 lead in the third stanza but Tolentino started Choco Mucho’s comeback while Rondina came through with the finisher to end it on top, 25-23, and extend their life.
Then the Flying Titans used that to boost their morale as everything clicked in the fourth, resulting in a lopsided 25-11 win to force a decider.
Rondina tried to will Choco Mucho in the fifth but sparkplug Kiesha Bedanio, Savannah Davison, and Erika Santos proved too much as the High Speed Hitters created a five-way logjam atop the team standings.
Despite the gallant stand, it still took a toll on the team.
“Lahat kami nanghihinayang, malungkot pero sabi ko nga after nito kailangan lang talaga nating kalimutan. Marami naman tayong natutunan, marami tayong na-gain dito sa sitwasyon na ‘to. Kailangan lang natin ulit bumalik and bukas trabaho ulit,” said Alinsunurin.
Rondina, the player who impacted the Flying Titans a lot since her arrival, admitted that she had no reasons for what happened in the disastrous first two sets for their previously unbeaten team. She only tallied six points in those.
With the splendid defensive work done to her by the High Speed Hitters, she tipped her hat to their opponents.
“Alam ni coach kung gaano ako kainis first two sets pa lang talaga. Hindi ko alam kung ano rin yung nangyari. Kahit ako hindi ako makasagot kasi kami na lahat yun eh, nangyari na rin yung nangyari kaya bumawi kami sa dulo which is hindi pa rin namin nakuha,” said Rondina, who still ended up with 25 points and 17 receptions.
“Good thing ang dami naming natutunan sa PLDT and yung respeto namin talaga sa kanila mataas talaga and grabe rin yung scouting nila.”
