It wasn’t the ending they had envisioned.
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans walked off the court at the Philsports Arena on Saturday night, their dream of a podium finish in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference slipping through their fingers after a straight-sets loss to the Akari Chargers in the bronze medal match, 15-25, 24-26, 24-26. But even in defeat, head coach Dante Alinsunurin remained proud of a team that battled through adversity—wounded, but never broken.
“Actually, masaya pa rin naman kami sa naging performance namin kasi based doon sa naging performance namin last year, hanggang sa bago kami dumating dito, talagang sobrang thankful ako sa players ko. Talagang nag-respond sila kung anong gusto naming gawin sa loob ng court,” said Alinsunurin, his voice tinged with both pride and disappointment.
It wasn’t just the tough competition that kept Choco Mucho from reaching the podium. It was the timing of the setbacks—critical injuries at critical junctures—that derailed what could’ve been a breakthrough campaign for the Flying Titans.
After a 4-3 start before the December break, Choco Mucho appeared to be rounding into form. Then came the gut punch: star opposite Kat Tolentino was ruled out indefinitely due to a ruptured appendix. Just when they were starting to build momentum, their offensive linchpin was suddenly gone.
But the Flying Titans didn’t flinch.
Veteran Dindin Santiago-Manabat stepped into the void and played her heart out, guiding the team to a four-game win streak that propelled them to an 8-3 finish in the elimination round. The resurgence earned them a fifth-seed slot and a quarterfinal date with PLDT—a series they swept with poise and precision.
Yet fate wasn’t done dealing curveballs.
In the semifinals, with a chance to chase history, Manabat too went down—this time with a knee sprain that ruled her out for the rest of the tournament. With their offensive core depleted, Alinsunurin was forced to reshuffle his deck. Outside hitter Royse Tubino was moved to opposite, a position she had never played full-time.
“Hindi lang talaga namin inaasahan na bigla na lang every time na meron kaming crucial game na kailangan namin ng mga tao, nababawasan kami or nagkakaroon ng problema,” the coach admitted.
The hits kept coming. Des Cheng was reduced to a serving specialist role. Mean Mendrez and Aduke Ogunsanya were still working their way back to peak form after prior injuries. It became a game of survival more than dominance.
And yet, the Flying Titans fought to the very end.
“Yung mindset namin talaga is kahit natalo kami nung battle for third, alam namin sa sarili namin na kaya namin pero talagang kinulang lang sa pagkakataon kaya hindi namin nakuha yung game na yun,” Alinsunurin said, his words echoing the quiet confidence of a team that knew how close it was.
While the result stung, it also revealed something deeper: a team that refused to give up, even when the odds were stacked against them.
“At least nakita namin yung nagiging problema namin para pagdating ng new conference, mas pagbubutihan pa namin at imamindset na talaga namin na every time na may sitwasyon, kailangan lahat mag-step up hindi lang anim o pitong player na nasa loob ng court."
Looking forward, the focus now shifts to preparation—and reinforcement.
Choco Mucho plans to take a more aggressive approach in the upcoming PVL Rookie Draft. Unlike last time, when they selected just one player—Lorraine Pecaña at 11th overall—the Flying Titans are expected to be active in multiple rounds.
“Well, ang mangyayari talaga kung ano yung nagiging problema namin sa bawat game, like opposite, kailangan talaga namin kumuha. Kasi hindi pa rin namin alam kung ano yung magiging sitwasyon ni Kat kung babalik ba siya,” Alinsunurin said.
He’s hoping to bring in fresh blood—young talents who can be molded into key contributors should injury trouble strike again.
“Siguro mas marami kaming makukuha na bata para maging maayos yung takbo ng laro every time na may mga sitwasyon. Baka marami na kaming kunin para mapaghandaan talaga ‘yung nagiging problema namin pagdating sa mga dulo."
There’s an air of unfinished business surrounding Choco Mucho. This wasn’t the ending they wanted—but maybe it’s the beginning of something more.
