Coming off thrilling come-from-behind victories, Choco Mucho and Akari aim for strong starts and sustained momentum to secure the first two semifinal spots in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Both teams resume their best-of-three quarterfinal series on Thursday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig, with the Flying Titans battling the PLDT High Speed Hitters at 4 p.m. and the Chargers facing the Galeries Tower Highrisers at 6:30 p.m. A win sends them straight to the Final Four, while a loss leaves them at risk of elimination.
The Flying Titans stunned the High Speed Hitters in a dramatic five-set comeback in Game 1. After losing the first two sets, they mounted an inspired rally, sealing the decider in extended fashion – a testament to the high-stakes nature of the quarterfinals, where no lead is safe.
Choco Mucho’s bench depth played a key role in the turnaround. Head coach Dante Alinsunurin made a bold move, subbing in Mars Alba for Deanna Wong in the third set. Alba delivered a stellar 16-excellent set performance, along with three points, orchestrating the comeback with composure and precision.
"For me, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. When I stepped in for the third set, I told them, ‘Trust each other. We can do this,’" said Alba in Filipino, who faced her former F2 Logistics teammates Kim Dy, Kim Fajardo and Majoy Baron.
Choco Mucho’s offensive spark, led by the explosive Sisi Rondina, will be crucial in Game 2 as they seek to close out the series.
On the other side, PLDT must respond with greater consistency and mental toughness. Despite a 25-point performance and 19 excellent receptions from Savi Davison, the High Speed Hitters struggled to finish strong.
“I had some errors, especially in the fourth and third sets, that I need to clean up,” said Davison, who however stressed the need for more contributions across the board.
“Hopefully, in Game 2, more players step up and put points on the board,” she said.
PLDT’s supporting cast – including Erika Santos, Fiola Ceballos and Majoy Baron – must rise to the occasion after faltering in the latter stages of Game 1.
Like Choco Mucho, Akari showed remarkable grit in their series’ opener win over Galeries Tower. After falling behind 1-2 in sets, the Chargers regrouped, dominated the fourth, and overpowered the Highrisers in the decider.
Former National U star Ivy Lacsina led the charge, matching her career-best 28-point performance, highlighted by 22 attacks and six kill blocks.
"We can’t afford to slow down just because we won Game 1. The job’s not done until we achieve our ultimate goal," said Lacsina in Filipino.
Akari’s depth, with key contributions from Eli Soyud, Grethcel Soltones, Fifi Sharma, Ezra Madrigal, Faith Nisperos, Camille Victoria and Steph Bustrillo, gives them an edge heading into Game 2.
Despite their inexperience, the Highrisers are not backing down. Jewel Encarnacion, who led Galeries Tower with 18 points, acknowledged their struggles in closing out tight sets but remains optimistic.
“Our coaches reminded us that despite the loss, we still pushed the game to five sets. We can’t let disappointment take over. We need to focus on the next game and fight for another chance,” said Encarnacion in Filipino.
Galeries Tower, which stunned third-seed Cignal in the qualifying round, hopes to defy the odds once more.
The Flying Titans and the Chargers understand the high stakes, but their opponents are equally determined to extend the series, setting the stage for another pair of riveting matchups. With the league’s record-setting six-month conference delivering nonstop excitement, expect nothing less than another thrilling chapter in this intense battle organized by Sports Vision and supported by Arena Plus, Fabriano Appliances, Milcu, iColor & Argan Beauty, Tapa King, Sport Radar and Mikasa.
Games are telecast live on Pilipinas Live, RPTV, One Sports, One Sports+, and pvl.ph.
