Choco Mucho sweeps Chery Tiggo, nears finals return

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Choco Mucho enhanced its bid for a return trip to the finals with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 victory over Chery Tiggo on Thursday night, May 2, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

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Choco Mucho enhanced its bid for a return trip to the finals with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 victory over Chery Tiggo on Thursday night, May 2, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Choco Mucho's Royse Tubino scores against Eya Laure and Aby Maraño of Chery Tiggo. (PVL Images)

It was the second straight win for the Flying Titans in this round-robin semifinal phase, following up their five-set triumph over the Creamline Cool Smashers the other day.

Royse Tubino went full blast at the attack line and unleashed 17 points including crucial kills late in the third set that anchored Choco Mucho to the much-needed victory.

“Yung mindset talaga namin dito, kailangang maipanalo namin kaagad para mataas yung makuha naming points dito sa semis,” said Tubino, who highlighted her performance with 15 attacks and two blocks.

Sisi Rondina also waxed hot for the Flying Titans by scattering all her 18 points on kills apart from managing 14 digs.

The Flying Titans encountered stiff resistance late in the third after sisters Eya and EJ Laure conspired for three straight points to trim the Crossovers’ deficit from 23-19 to 23-22.

Tubino stopped the bleeding with her own quick attack to bring Choco Mucho at matchpoint, 24-22, but Eya was not yet done, retaliating with her own down-the-line spike to keep Chery Tiggo afloat, 24-23.  But a costly service error from Ponggay Gaston that went long ended the match in favor of the Flying Titans.

Choco Mucho also shackled Chery Tiggo with its tight defense, limiting Eya and EJ to single-digit productions with only Cza Carandang finishing in twin figures with 10 points.

The Flying Titans also took advantage of the Crossovers’ weak serves, receiving the ball well and executing a variety of plays with Mars Alba finishing with 14 excellent sets.

Choco Mucho hopes to sweep the semis and advance to the championship round on Sunday, May 5, when it squares off with Petro Gazz at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Chery Tiggo, which absorbed its second straight defeat, tries to keep its slim chance of making into the finals when it faces Creamline on the same day.