CHOCO Mucho and Cignal clash for the remaining championship berth today in a do-or-die match today in the Premier Volleyball League Second All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena.

The Flying Titans enter the 6 p.m. contest with a surge of momentum, having rebounded from a meltdown in the series opener with a straight-set romp over the HD Spikers.

Both are hungry for a Finals breakthrough.

Since joining the league in 2019, Choco Mucho’s best performance was two fourth-place finishes.

Cignal, meanwhile, has placed no higher than third in six PVL conferences.

Coach Dante Alinsunurin recognizes the Flying Titans’ need for both rest and rigorous preparation, stressing the importance of addressing issues and implementing necessary adjustments ahead of the sudden death.

“May mga naging problema kami nung Game 1. Sabi namin, sinubukan lang tayo kasi doon sa pagkapanalo natin ng 10 games, siguro medyo nagkumpiyansa kami,” said Alinsunurin. “Kinulang kami sa guton nung time nay un, so sabi ko, paghirapan natin uli para mas maganda ang resulta pagdating sa Games 2 at 3.”

As they gear up for the decisive match, Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina and Kat Tolentino expect to lead the team’s surge the way they did in the series-tying victory.

“Siyempre babalik pa rin kami sa kumpyansa ni coach (Dante). Pagkakatiwalaan namin kung ano yung gusto at plano niya. Yung commitment namin sa isa’t isa, sa team na ito, and eto na may Game 3 and kailangan naming all-out. Magandang ano ito, magandang preparation ito. Confidence rin ito para sa amin, para sa Game 3 namin. Lalaban kami,” said Rondina, who fired 19 points in the opener and exploded for 23 points in Game 2.

Tolentino, who started in both matches, knows that the HD Spikers will fight back just like in Game 1, where they battled back from a 0-2 hole that ended the Flying Titans’ 10-match winning streak.

“I think for me we have to humble ourselves again, we have to start from the beginning. We’ll celebrate but we have to prepare again (for Game 3) because Cignal will come back with even more fire,” said Tolentino.

“I think the team that’s complacent will always be at a disadvantage and I think that’s what happened (in Game 1). We have to keep that fire alive and just continue to be humble with our skills and go back to coach Dante’s system,” she added.

Reaching the Finals would definitely be one of Tolentino’s career highlights.

“It’s a big accomplishment especially in the pros and I’ve been with this team since the beginning so it will definitely be such a memorable accomplishment if it happens,” Tolentino said.

Vanie Gandler is raring to bounce back from a five-point outing in Game 2 after a solid 17-point showing in the HD Spikers’ series-opening win.

Ces Molina, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Riri Meneses and Rose Doria are also set to showcase their experience and skills in an attempt to counter-balance opponent’s firepower.

Focus will also be on the two teams’ top playmakers with Choco Mucho’s Deanna Wong and Cignal’s Gel Cayuna, whose ability to involve hitters and middles while executing strategic plays will be crucial in determining the outcome of their showdown.

The winner, however, will face a tougher challenge as it faces reigning defending champion Creamline, a team that awaits, well-rested after dominating Chery Tiggo in the other half of the semifinals.

Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals is set on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.