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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Flying Titans edge HD Spikers, book finals date with Cool Smashers

Flying Titans edge HD Spikers, book finals date with Cool Smashers

Published Dec 12, 2023 01:14 pm

At A Glance

  • Choco Mucho knocked out a persistent Cignal side with a thrilling 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23 victory to book its breakthrough finals appearance in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Tuesday night, Dec. 12.

Choco Mucho knocked out a persistent Cignal side with a thrilling 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23 victory to book its breakthrough finals appearance in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Tuesday night, Dec. 12.

PVL AFC Semis Choco Mucho vs. Cignal G3 - Sisi Rondina-8284.jpg
Sisi Rondina explodes for Choco Mucho anew against Cignal. (PVL Images)

The Flying Titans rode on the momentum of their 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 Game 2 triumph just last Saturday, Dec. 9, to prevail in their best-of-three semifinal series and arrange a championship sister act with the Creamline Cool Smashers, who swept the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the other semis pairing.

Sisi Rondina and Kat Tolentino anchored Choco Mucho anew by unleashing hard-hitting kills particularly in the crunch that somehow silenced Cignal’s defense.

The high-flying Rondina erupted for 21 points while Tolentino pumped in 17 points, apart from conspiring for 36 attacks.

Clinching the championship berth for the first time was a feat itself for Choco Mucho, which endured a couple of seventh-place finishes in the last three conferences before finally stealing the spotlight.

“We’re just really grateful na nakapasok kami sa championship. Step by step, pinaghirapan namin ito. Hopefully we’ll reach our goal,” said an emotional Deanna Wong, who worked the ball well and distributed 24 excellent sets to her spikers.

“You can see that this team is very determined,” said Tolentino. “This team has gone through a lot, and we’re excited to play in the finals because we still have so much to offer.

Choco Mucho held its ground against the challenges from Cignal especially in the fourth set where the HD Spikers trimmed their 22-19 deficit to 22-21.

Both teams exchanged points on errors until Tolentino’s crosscourt kill gave Choco Mucho the matchpoint advantage, 24-22.

Vanie Gandler briefly breathed life to Cignal with an off-the-block spike, but her next attack went wide, handing Choco Mucho the victory.

Maddie Madayag and Nunag also starred for the Flying Titans with 12 points apiece while Isa Molde chipped in 10 points.

Gandler and Ces Molina scored 20 and 19 points for the HD Spikers, who failed to sustain their 18-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-10 Game 1 triumph last week.

Game 1 of the finals will be on Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Related Tags

Choco Mucho Flying Titans Cignal HD Spikers pvl all filipino conference
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