The Choco Mucho Flying Titans complete their sweep over the PLDT High Speed Hitters to secure a trip to the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
With the game tied at 13-all, Deanna Wong tossed up a set to backup setter Mars Alba, who was fielded by Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin as a wing spiker in a late-game rotation.
Alba would immediately repay Wong and Alinsunurin’s trust, firing a cut shot that caught all of the PLDT High Speed Hitters off-guard. Just like that, Choco Mucho was at match point, 14-13, even if the Savi Davison-led PLDT had given it their all to force a do-or-die Game 3 in their best-of-three PVL All-Filipino quarterfinals series.
Alba’s clutch kill set up a fitting conclusion to the thrilling series, which was Sisi Rondina tearing through the PLDT block to seal the Flying Titans’ 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13 Game 2 victory over the gritty High Speed Hitters.
“Ang iniisip ko nung time na ‘yun, backup lang talaga ako kasi given na nasa harap si Ate Sisi, so porsyento po talaga. ‘Di ko lang din in-expect pero ready lang din ako, ‘di ko in-expect na binigay sakin ni Ate Deanna ‘yung bola,” recalled Alba, who finished with seven points, 22 excellent sets, and Player of the Game honors.
“Pero ‘yun, sabi ko lang ako bahala, like magko-contribute lang ako hangga’t pwede. Di ko rin in-expect eh, kala ko nga kami ni Ate Deanna magpapalit kami, tas biglang sabi na hindi, hindi raw!”
As unexpected as it was, Alba had been training as a spiker in Choco Mucho’s recent practices, a choice that turned out to be a major blessing in disguise late into their PVL All-Filipino Conference redemption tour.
“For me, siguro may kumpyansa lang, given na ginagawa siya sa ensayo. Lately, nakikisali na ako sa free spiking so ‘yun, na-practice naman kaya may kumpyansa din ako, na may connection kami ni Ate Deanna,” Alba shared.
Test of character
There will always be one exciting matchup that takes place too early in the playoffs, and this Choco Mucho-PLDT series is a good example. In a different time, this is a bout that we could have seen in the conference semifinals, or even the finals if we’re lucky enough.
They may have met earlier than expected, but the two games between them certainly delivered, with Choco Mucho having to dig deep to overcome the High Speed Hitters. Game 1 saw the Titans coming back from a 2-0 set lead that PLDT quickly established, which saw an epic duel between captain Sisi Rondina and the title-seeking Davison in Choco Mucho’s thrilling comeback.
Game 2 was nearly a contrast to the series opener, with the High Speed Hitters nearly overcoming the Titans’ 2-0 set lead. Davison remained impressive with 34 huge points, but she now had ample support from veteran middle blocker Majoy Baron (17 points), opposite spiker Erika Santos (13 points), and the veteran Fiola Ceballos (11 points).
However, a crucial 9-2 run from Choco Mucho aided by a number of PLDT errors effectively secured the Titans’ march back into the All-Filipino semifinals.
“Sobrang saya ko kasi lahat parang piga na talaga, si Mars naging spiker na pero ayun, wala ‘di lang talaga kami tumigil and sobrang proud ako sa team namin. Lahat kaya mag-adjust ng position, kung ano man ‘yan, hangga’t kaya mag-contribute tatrabaho talaga,” team captain Sisi Rondina reflected after pouring in a team-high 21 points.
Almost but not quite for PLDT
Dating back to the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference, PLDT’s recent campaigns can be described as “almost, but not quite”. The High Speed Hitters barely missed out on the Final Four in the past two All-Filipino Conferences, before falling in a controversial five-setter in the 2024 Reinforced Conference semifinals.
Led by an in-form Davison, PLDT had a promising campaign in the ongoing All-Filipino wars, finishing the preliminaries in fourth place with an 8-3 record that included a major upset against the Creamline Cool Smashers last February 15.
The High Speed Hitters proceeded to dispatch the ZUS Coffee in the qualifying round, which set up their meeting with the powerhouse Flying Titans.
But as Davison pointed out, breaks of the game caused PLDT’s heartbreak this time around.
“Parang no words, right? It was a long season and we just got, I guess the tough bracket. But we’re not here to complain and we’re here to play. So ‘yun lang, it’s just, you know? It boils down to the last couple points and you know? They just weren’t in our favor, so ‘yun lang,” Davison reflected.
“I guess [our biggest takeaway was] it’s a team sport, it takes a village, coaches, and management to really pull through. And it just goes to show that you know? Regardless of one person, you need everybody,” she added. “And we played really well today, but like I said, it just didn’t swing in our favor.”
Davison and PLDT will now turn their attention to the AVC Champions’ League set this April 20 to 27, where they will be one of three PVL teams along with Creamline and the Petro Gazz Angels representing the Philippines.
More likely than not, today’s pain will be the High Speed Hitters’ motivation as they prepare to face off against some of Asia’s top club teams in the one-week meet.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.