Pascual ZUS Coffee’s Gayle Pascual tries to score off Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino during their PVL All-Filipino Conference match yesterday. PVL photo

Titans fly high

January 20, 2025 Theodore P. Jurado 101 views

CHOCO Mucho rallied from two sets down to outlast ZUS Coffee while Farm Fresh swept Nxled as action in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference resumed yesterday after a month-long break at the Philsports Arena.

Deanna Wong had a triumphant return as the Flying Titans pulled off a reverse sweep of ZUS Coffee, 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9.

Boosted by the return of Jolina Dela Cruz and the debut of Lorene Toring, the Foxies defeated Nxled, 25-22, 26-24, 25-21, in the curtain raiser.

Choco Mucho logged its second straight win after a three-match losing streak to improve to 4-3 card, while Farm Fresh improved to 3-3.

The Thunderbelles, meanwhile, dropped a second consecutive five-setter and absorbed their fourth loss in six matches.

Wong, who sat out in the first six matches due to a nagging knee injury, started in the third set after entering as a substitute in the first two and stepped up, tossing in 10 excellent sets and scoring seven points including two service aces.

Sisi Rondina led the Flying Titans with 25 points and nine receptions, Dindin Santiago-Manabat had four blocks for a 19-point outing, while rookie Lorraine Pecaña also had a solid outing with two service aces and two service aces to finish with 11 points.

Isa Molde had a double-double effort of 13 points and 11 digs.

“Team effort lang talaga kasi yung first two sets, struggle talaga sa timing na ginagawa namin sa opensa at depensa namin kasi . Siguro sa third set medyo gumanda na ang galaw namin kasi kung ano yung gusto naming mangyari sa loob ng court, nakuha na namin like yung blockings namin. Nagka-timing kami, and yung opensa din namin,” said Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin.

“Nasasambit ni Deanna yung opensa namin dahil sa depensa namin. Sana magtuloy-tuloy ang magandang galawan namin para sa umangat,” he added.

Chai Troncoso topscored for ZUS Coffee with 17 points, including three blocks, and eight receptions, while Gayle Pascual added 15 points, including a couple of set-clinching kills.

Thea Gagate also had three blocks for a 14-point effort while Michelle Gamit was the other Thunderbelle in double digits with 13 points.

Dela Cruz and Toring were immediately utilized as starters despite coming off ACL injuries and spending a year off the court and were obviously trying to feel their way.

Dela Cruz made an immediate impact with Farm Fresh as the 5-foot-9 hitter took the scoring mantle with 20 points on 18-of-35 kills and two service aces in her first game since Nov. 30, 2023 while playing for now defunct F2 Logistics.

Meanwhile, Toring contributed three points in her first pro match.

“Tingin ko medyo nangangapa pa sila lahat. First game sa New Year, opening the PVL sa January medyo ipon yung pressure. Kita naman yung galaw nila medyo pigil, hopefully makapag-adjust na kami going towards yung second game namin,” said Foxies coach Benson Bocboc.

Dela Cruz, who also tallied five receptions and five digs, was simply happy to be back on the court.

“Masaya and nakakamiss talagang maramdaman ulit yung pressure. Privilege siya and thank you rin kay coach Boc na binigyan niya kami ni Lorene ng opportunity na makapaglaro ulit at makasama sa starters,” said Dela Cruz.

Trisha Tubu added 14 points, including two blocks, while Alyssa Bertolano contributed eight points in just two sets of action for Farm Fresh.

Jai Atienza paced the Chameleons with 11 points, including six blocks, while Chiara Permentilla logged nine points, six digs and six receptions.

AUTHOR PROFILE