Through a pair of competitive games with younger teams, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans get a firsthand view of the growing level of play within the PVL.
In their bid to reestablish themselves as PVL title contenders, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans have seen first-hand the immense potential of the league’s newer teams early into the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference.
Despite holding a 2-1 record, the Flying Titans had competitive outings against the younger Galeries Tower Highrisers and Capital1 Solar Spikers. You may recall that Choco Mucho needed five sets to escape Galeries Tower, while they had to overcome huge deficits against Capital1 in a four-set victory.
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin attributed this improved competitiveness to the PVL Rookie Draft, which held its first-ever iteration last July. Galeries Tower and Capital1 were among the lottery teams back then, along with the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles and Farm Fresh Foxies.
“Sa ngayon, nararamdaman na ng…hindi lang kami na team, maski ibang team na ‘yung competition ngayon is tumataas na dahil sa naging drafting natin kasi talagang doon na mababago talaga yung mangyayari sa atin bago mag-start ang PVL,” said Alinsunurin after Choco Mucho beat the Solar Spikers on Thursday.
Galeries Tower selected Julia Coronel with the third overall pick, followed by Jewel Encarnacion at 15th overall. Likewise, Capital1 struck gold with second-overall pick Leila Cruz and 14th-overall pick Roma Mae Doromal through the Rookie Draft.
ZUS Coffee also scored its first franchise win thanks to first overall pick Thea Gagate and offseason pickup Jovelyn Gonzaga last November 19.
“Siguro after pa ng isang drafting yan magba-balance talaga ‘yung team. Makikita mo yung competition is tataas ang tataas,” added Alinsunurin.
Apart from the draft, free agent signings such as Jho Maraguinot (Galeries Tower) and Rachel Anne Daquis (Farm Fresh) are also expected to spice up the level of competitiveness as the new season goes on.
For her part, Sisi Rondina views this as increased motivation for her and the Flying Titans to keep improving as they keep up with the playing field.
“Maganda na ‘yung PVL ngayon. Makikita naman talaga natin ‘yung volleyball talaga sineseryoso. Makikita natin ngayon kahit kami, nakikita namin na sobrang lumalakas na ‘yung mga teams talaga. Siyempre sa amin naman magpapalakas din kami,” said the star spiker.
Character building
More than seeing a bright future for the PVL, Choco Mucho’s close shaves also act as necessary learning experiences. For them, it’s a reminder that they’ve yet to become the team they envisioned themselves to be in this redemption tour.
“Kung anong gusto namin mangyari sa loob ng court, hindi pa talaga namin makuha. [Nandyan] naman na ‘yung opensa namin pero service receive namin sobrang baba ng porsyento. Talagang kailangan pa trabahuhin everyday yung service receive na ‘yan para maramdaman ko or maramdaman ang team na unti-unti namin nakakabalik sa gusto namin mangyari sa this conference,” said Alinsunurin.
Sure they’re a battle-tested team, but there is also a need to rebuild their character as the six-month-long conference begins to heat up.
“Pagating dito sa PVL, sa pro medyo hirap maka-establish [ng character] dahil sa sitwasyon na sobrang mahaba ‘yung liga, tuloy-tuloy yung liga. Sakin kasi, ‘yung kaninang nangyari…’di lang kanina pero ‘yung last game din namin [against Galeries Tower] na onti-onting nakakabalik ‘yung sense namin sa laro na kailangan every time nasa loob kami ng court dapat tatrabahuhin namin,” the champion mentor added.
“Hindi kami bibigay-bibigay nang basta-basta nalang. Importante lang na tama ‘yung ginagawa namin at may direksyon.”
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.