Choco Mucho finally snagged its first win in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference with a four-set romp over ZUS Coffee, but it came with a tough personnel decision.
Midway through the first set – the Flying Titans’ only set loss – head coach Dante Alinsunurin decided to rest import Zoi Faki until the latter part of the fourth set due to the fatigue the Greek import had been experiencing in the ongoing conference.
“Nakita ko lang na hanggang ngayon, medyo pagod pa rin si Zoi sa ginagawa namin. Nakita rin ng coaches namin na mas mababawasan na yung gusto naming gawin sa loob ng court kasi nga mas iniintindi pa namin siya kung ano ang dapat gawin namin,” Alinsunurin said after the game.
“Sa akin, importante lang makapahinga siya para kapag kailangan na namin siya, mas healthy siya pagdating ng game.”
Alinsunurin also cited Choco Mucho’s offensive problems in the first set, which led to his decision to bench Faki and substitute opposite spiker Dindin Santiago-Manabat.
(c) PVL Images
The Flying Titans’ offense struggled to start the match, dropping the first set by 11 points, 25-14.
“Sa sitwasyon namin ngayong first set, talagang yun ang kulang namin, kung paano kami umopensa at paano kami pumatay ng bola,” the National University Bulldogs coach said.
“Madali namang iguide si Dindin kasi kakilala ko na rin siya before pumunta rito, kaya kung ano lang yung binibigay ko sa kanya, ginagawa naman niya,” he added.
Choco Mucho’s local players stepped up during the benching of the 25-year-old opposite spiker, with Royse Tubino leading the charge with 21 points on 50-percent attack efficiency.
Team captain Maddie Madayag and Maika Ortiz combined for 17 points, helping the team secure its first Reinforced Conference win.
“Yung coaching staff ko, tinanong ko rin sila na kailangan talaga natin magpalit nung una at kailangan ipahinga siya,” he added.
“Ako naman, sobrang tiwala ako sa pinasok ko nung second set kasi yun talaga yung tao ko.”
