Choco Mucho remains defiant that it could turn its fortune around in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference finals despite getting its back against the wall.
The Flying Titans fight for survival against the unbeaten defending champion Creamline in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Although already at a disadvantage against its sister team that it has yet to beat after 10 meetings since joining the league in 2019, Choco Mucho hopes to make the same miracle it pulled off in the semifinals to get into its first-ever finals appearance.
“As coach Dante (Alinsunurin) told us, the battle is far from over,” power-hitting open spiker Sisi Rondina said.
The Flying Titans were in the same situation in the race-to-two semis against Cignal where they rallied from 0-1 down in the series.
“We already came back (from a series deficit) in the semifinals and I think we can replicate that. We’ll bounce back in Game 2. I guess whoever gets a better mindset and recovery will get the win,” Rondina, who poured 17 points and 19 excellent receptions in Choco Mucho’s 25-23, 19-25, 26-24, 25-22, in Game 1 last Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena, said.
The Flying Titans made the three-peat-seeking Cool Smashers sweat in all four sets especially in the extended third frame that could’ve gone their way if only they didn’t blink in the closing stretch that turned into a battle of nerves.
“Honestly, I guess we lacked the manpower that Creamline has. We can compete with Creamline but they have the advantage of having many options. If one spiker isn’t effective, they have other players to pick from the bench. Something that we don’t have,” middle blocker Maddie Madayag said.
Alinsunurin worked with a short rotation with only Regine Arocha getting significant minutes as a reliever at the open spiker spot for struggling Isa Molde.
It didn’t help that another talented winger Des Cheng could only watch at the sideline after suffering a right knee injury early in the season-ending conference.
“But I’m proud of what my teammates showed inside the court. But again, we’re up against a veteran team that has been on top for a long time. We’re just the challengers,” Madayag, who had 18 points including seven kill blocks last game, said.
“We’ve learned a lot in this game. It’s back to the drawing board for us and prepare for Saturday’s game.”
Game 3, if necessary, is on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For now, the Flying Titans want to put the bitter Game 1 loss behind them as they shift their focus on extending the series.
“I told them that we have to accept and move on from what happened to us (in Game 1). Tomorrow is another day and an opportunity for us to get our minds set to what we should do, what adjustments to make in the next game,” Alinsurin said.
