KAT Tolentino had 27 points and 22 digs as Choco Mucho showed no quit in beating PLDT, 25-21, 25-17, 22-25, 10-25, 16-1, to keep its semifinals bid alive yesterday in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the jampacked Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Flying Titans rallied from 0-3 and 2-6 deficits in the deciding set, as Tolentino and Ponggay Gaston delivered the clutch kills to snap a three-match losing skid.

It was a sorry loss for the High Fast Hitters, who unloaded a 14-1 run to build a 23-9 spread in the fourth and force a decider, only to lose steam down the stretch.

Choco Mucho’s win stalled PLDT and Army-Black Mamba’s march to the semis. The High Speed Hitters fell in a tie with the Lady Troopers at 3-2, just a game ahead of the Flying Titans, who rose to 2-3.

That made tomorrow’s final preliminary matchday an important one, as Choco Mucho will take on also-ran PetroGazz, PLDT will go up against early semifinalist Cignal, and Army will battle Creamline.

The Flying Titans’ bid still are not in their hands, but coach Oliver Almadro stayed upbeat about his club’s chances of staving off elimination.

“Our semifinal hopes remains alive, we will never say die, we will fight until the end,” said Almadro.

Tolentino, who missed three matches along with fellow starters Des Cheng, Cherry Nunag and second libero Thang Ponce due to health and safety protocols, is simply glad to return and bring back Choco Mucho back to the win column.

“I have to do my role, that’s what coach O wants me to focus on. For the team, it doesn’t matter you score how many points as long as we work together, as long we do our own part and then we could really help each other,” said Tolentino.

Isa Molde added 11 points, while Bea de Leon and Nunag each scored 10 points for the Flying Titans.

Nunag and De Leon combined eight of Choco Mucho’s 11 blocks.

Jules Samonte and Chin-Chin Basas scored 17 points apiece while Dell Palomata had four blocks for a 16-point effort for the High Speed Hitters.

PLDT lost despite having 14 blocks and nine service aces.

Games tomorrow

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
11:30 a.m. – Creamline vs Army
2:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Cignal
5:30 p.m. – PetroGazz vs Choco Mucho