What has fueled the Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ winning streak midway into the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference?
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans seem to have turned a corner midway through the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminary rounds.
From a 2-3 start to the conference, the Flying Titans are now on a four-game winning streak following a huge win against the Akari Chargers at the Philsports Arena over the weekend.
Veteran setter Deanna Wong believes that teamwork has fueled the Titans’ streak, which also includes wins over the Farm Fresh Foxies, ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, and PLDT High Speed Hitters.
“‘Di naman kasi isang tao lang nagpapanalo ng game so ‘yun, pag off ang receive, we get to the ball, cover ng palo. Parang connected lang talaga siya sa gagawin namin and happy kasi pa onti-onti we’re reaching the goal na gusto namin marating,” Wong reflected following the 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15 win over Akari.
Teamwork, Wong said, allowed Choco Mucho to regain control following their second set stumble against the Chargers. After a tight third set, the Titans pulled away completely as Sisi Rondina, Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Isa Molde penetrated the Chargers’ defense.
“Team effort talaga kasi si Sisi nawala, ako nawala, si Isa [Molde] nawala. We were trying to be patient with each other and we’re really trying to help each other. So ‘yun naman ‘yung samin, pag isa ‘yung nawala, kami ‘yung tutulong sa isa para makabalik,” Wong explained.
Choco Mucho now holds a 6-3 record, and is in a three-way tie with PLDT and the Cignal HD Spikers. For her part, Rondina lauded the Titans’ character and impressive adaptability throughout their past four wins.
“Siguro ang napansin ko lang is pag nauunahan kami, nagrereact kami agad kung ano gagawin. And maganda dun kasi sa dulo maikita ‘yung magandang resulta and ayun, tutuloy lang namin ‘yun and pagtatrabahuhin namin ‘yung mga pagkakamali namin,” Rondina said.
But like Wong, the Cebuana ace also emphasized the Flying Titans’ remarkable teamwork as an important factor to their recent wins.
“Dami naming pagkakamali talaga sa game kanina, and nagagalit na ako sa sarili ko kasi ako ‘yung unang nawala,” she reflected. “Pero ayun, nagpapasalamat ako sa mga kasama ko, sa tiwalang binigay nila and ayun team effort naman ‘yung kanina. Lahat gigil na rin talaga makabalik and ayun, nailabas nang maganda.”
The Flying Titans will now face the Nxled Chameleons next on February 13, before closing out the preliminary rounds against the Chery Tiggo on February 22 in Passi, Iloilo. With a target on their backs, it’s now a matter of discipline as the fan-favorite squad looks to finish this round strong.
“Samin everyday tatrabahuhin talaga namin ‘yung goal namin and kung sino man ‘yung kalaban namin rerespetuhin namin sila,” head coach Dante Alinsunurin said. “Kailangan namin sila pag-aralan, pahandaan.”
“Uulitin ko, everytime na pupunta kami [sa laro], ‘yung mindset namin is manalo nang manalo.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.