DANTE Alinsunurin, a decorated men’s volleyball mentor, will make his return to the women’s scene as Premier Volleyball League club Choco Mucho yesterday formally announced his appointment as head coach.

“With Coach Dante’s experience, commitment and program, we truly believe he will lead our Titans to reach their highest potential as he has done for the other teams he has coached,” the club said in a statement through its social media accounts yesterday.

Alinsunurin, who steered the Philippine men’s team to a historic silver medal finish in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, will replace Edjet Mabbayad, who was serving Choco Mucho in an interim capacity after Oliver Almadro abruptly resigned last November.

It will be the first time Alinsunurin will handle a women’s team – in a club or collegiate level – since the 2009-10 UAAP season where he handled National University for one year with the likes of Kai Nepomuceno, Mina Aganon,

Vec Mangui and libero Jen Reyes.

Alinsunurin later handled the Bulldogs in men’s volleyball where they became a powerhouse with players like Bryan Bagunas, Kim Malabunga, Josh Retamar and libero Ricky Marcos.

With NU, Alinsunurin has won four UAAP championships and numerous Spikers’ Turf crowns.

The Flying Titans have yet to achieve a podium finish since joining the league in 2019, and Alinsunurin, who will bring in veteran setter Jessie Lopez as one of his assistants, hopes to bring the winning mentality to the one of the PVL’s most popular teams.​

Choco Mucho finished seventh in the Reinforced Conference ruled by PetroGazz.

“Maraming Salamat Coach Dante for taking on the challenge!,” the club said.

The Flying Titans still have Kat Tolentino, Desiree Cheng, Isa Molde, Maddie Madayag, Bea de Leon, Deanna Wong, Jem Ferrer and Dennise Lazaro-Revilla in its roster.

Just like the rest of the field, the Flying Titans started training after the holiday break this week for the Open Conference set to begin early next month.

Choco Mucho, however, will be without Ponggay Gaston, who has already signed with Chery Tiggo, and Shannen Palec..