Choco Mucho's Kat Tolentino. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Choco Mucho has entered the win column of the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, thanks to their formidable net defense.
The Flying Titans posted a total of 22 blocks, seven each from opposite spiker Kat Tolentino and rookie Lorraine Pecaña to lift the team to a 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12 escape of Galeries on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
"May mga bagay lang talaga kaming hindi pa umaangat, pero sabi ko nga sa players ko, ang sasandalan talaga namin ay 'yung blocking namin," said coach Dante Alinsunurin during the postgame press conference.
"Kung ano pa 'yung kailangan naming i-improve, pasensiya lang, at sobrang thankful ako na nagtiwala sa 'kin 'yung mga players ko sa sistema ko sa blocks."
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It was also a bounce-back win for the Flying Titans after falling against Petro Gazz last Saturday.
Tolentino, who is powering through an auditory condition, led the team scoring after putting up 27 points and did her mark in the defense as well with 10 excellent digs.
Former MVP Sisi Rondina added 19 attack points and eight excellent receptions, while Mars Alba steered the offense, listing 20 excellent sets.
In the decider, the last All-Filipino runners-up enjoyed a three-point, 13-10 lead after a Pecaña block point and a Des Cheng service ace.
Ysa Jimenez kept Galeries' hopes with a kill, 13-11, but Rondina fired her signature sharp attack to give her team match point.
Juju Coronel answered back with an attack, 14-12, but another Rondina kill finally closed the curtains of the match which lasted almost three hours.
Jimenez and Jewel Encarnacion paced the Highrisers, who fell to a 0-2 win-loss card.