Choco Mucho triumphed in a thrilling clash, marked by momentum swings, composure under pressure and intense rallies, as they repelled a determined Chery Tiggo side, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, to secure the fourth quarterfinal spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig late Saturday.
Sisi Rondina led the charge for the Flying Titans, delivering an 18-point performance, including back-to-back off-the-block hits that capped their rally from five points down in the stretch. The victory mirrored Choco Mucho's earlier sweep over the Crossovers in Iloilo, 25-18, 25-23, 26-24, at the close of the preliminary round.
That win in Iloilo secured Choco Mucho the No. 5 seed, and this victory sent them to the best-of-three quarterfinals, joining the Creamline Cool Smashers, the Petro Gazz Angels and the surprising Galeries Tower Highrisers.
“It’s all about composure – how we bounce back when we’re behind. We really worked for it, and it showed that every one of us wanted to win,” said Rondina in Filipino, the league’s most electrifying player, whose high-flying and clutch plays often set her apart from the competition.
She also attributed their surge to the trust in the coaches' game plan.
Dindin Manabat also delivered when it mattered most, contributing 13 points, while Lorraine Pecana made her presence felt in the middle with six points. Cherry Nunag added five markers, and Isa Molde and Des Cheng each contributed four points. Royse Tubino chipped in with three markers.
Chery Tiggo, which faltered in the first set and couldn't complete its rally in the second, appeared set to force a fourth set after Shaya Adorador’s hit and ace gave the Crossovers a 20-16 lead, with Pauline Gaston extending the margin to five points with a running attack.
But just as the Crossovers thought they had the match in hand, the crowd favorites fought back, sparked by an Adorador service fault that ignited Choco Mucho’s decisive 9-2 closing run.
The Flying Titans’ initial comeback was halted when the Crossovers won a block touch challenge, turning a potential 21-20 deficit into a 22-19 advantage. Despite that, Choco Mucho remained unshaken, as Royse Tubino’s off-speed hit and Rondina’s sharp kill helped them tie the set at 22 followed by a Cess Robles attack error that put the Flying Titans in command.
Choco Mucho took firm control with a clutch ace from Regine Arocha. Though Seth Rodriguez ended the Crossovers' dry spell with a crucial block on Rondina, the former beach volleyball star rose to the occasion in the final moments.
Rondina’s first off-the-block hit came after she made a pancake save, and following a successful defensive play by the Flying Titans, Rondina sealed the victory with her final hammer, clinching the one-hour, 47-minute match – and the coveted quarterfinal berth.
The heartbreaking loss dropped Chery Tiggo into the play-in tournament.
Ara Galang also scored 18 points for the Crossovers. Adorador finished with 12, Robles added nine, Pauline Gaston contributed eight, and setter Jasmine Nabor chipped in with six.
In a frenetic opening set marked by momentum swings, Choco Mucho delivered the final, decisive surge to stun Chery Tiggo. Trailing for most of the way, the Flying Titans leaned on Manabat’s experience and leadership to claw back from a 17-20 deficit and steal the win.
A crucial moment came when Nabor orchestrated a brilliant 1-2 play, catching the defense off guard and capping off a breathtaking exchange of power hits and scrambling saves. The rally, filled with improbable recoveries, had the electrified weekend crowd on the edge of their seats before Nabor’s perfectly timed play swung the momentum back to Chery Tiggo, giving them a 19-17 lead.
Gaston then extended the Crossovers’ lead to three with a clutch putaway.
However, Choco Mucho refused to back down. Manabat stepped up, scoring two of the Flying Titans’ next three points, aided by a Nabor attack error, to force the set’s seventh deadlock. Chery Tiggo then faltered with consecutive attack errors from Galang and Jules Samonte, allowing Choco Mucho to seize a 22-20 lead.
The Crossovers kept within striking distance as Rondina’s back-row off-speed attempt proved short, but Nunag responded with a quick hit off a Mars Alba set, restoring a two-point cushion.
A Robles kill trimmed the gap once more, but Alba’s brilliant playmaking set up Manabat for a powerful through-the-block hit. With the set on the line, Choco Mucho’s defense stood tall, as Tubino came off the bench to stuff Robles’ attack, the ball ricocheting into the unguarded Zone 1 to seal the set.
Choco Mucho flipped the script in the second set, surging ahead to the second technical timeout with a 16-13 lead and inching closer to a commanding 2-0 advantage. The Flying Titans outplayed and outmaneuvered the erratic Crossovers in the stretch, pulling away at 23-18.
However, Chery Tiggo wasn’t done yet, mounting a strong comeback by scoring four consecutive points to narrow the gap to 22-23, highlighted by a key block on Manabat and an ace from Galang.
But just as the Crossovers appeared poised for a comeback, a costly miscommunication led to another error. Seizing the moment, Manabat delivered a smartly placed push off the hands of a Chery Tiggo defender, sending the ball out of bounds beyond Choco Mucho’s frontline and sealing the set in dramatic fashion.
