Choco Mucho experienced its first loss in the 2023 VTV Cup, falling to Tran Thi Thanh Thuy-powered Vietnam 1, 21-25, 19-25, 16-25 on Sunday evening at the Lao Cai Gymnasium.
The Flying Titans now hold a 1-1 record, sharing the third spot with Japan’s Kansai University.
Choco Mucho managed to stay competitive against the Vietnamese national team in the first set, thanks to a streak of five unanswered points in the middle, narrowing the gap to just two points late in the set, 20-22.
However, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh took control and secured the crucial points, leading to a 25-21 victory for Vietnam in the opening set.
In the second set, Vietnam displayed its dominance by establishing an early 10-2 lead and maintaining control throughout, ultimately claiming the set 25-19 and edging closer to a clean sweep.
Vietnam’s solid net defense played a pivotal role in their advantage during the third set. They broke away from a narrow 12-10 lead to establish a more comfortable 18-11 margin. Choco Mucho also contributed to their opponent’s success by committing several errors during this period.
For this game, head coach Dante Alinsunurin made adjustments to the starting lineup, fielding Isa Molde, Kat Tolentino, Bea De Leon, and Maika Ortiz. Deanna Wong and Sisi Rondina retained their positions in the First Six.
The Flying Titans aim to regain their winning momentum tomorrow as they face winless Australia at 4 p.m. (Manila time).
