MANILA – Choco Mucho Flying Titans overcame a tough challenge from Galeries Tower Highrisers for a 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12 escape in the PVL 2nd All-Filiipino Conference on Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
Kat Tolentino delivered a stellar performance of 27 points, including seven blocks, as the Flying Titans bounced back from their opening-day loss to the Petro Gazz Angels for a 1-1 win-loss slate.
“I feel tired but happy to be back helping the team. We just trusted each other and kept fighting,” Tolentino said during her Player of the Game interview. “This is just the beginning. We have so much to give, and we’re going to keep working hard.”
Cherry Ann Rondina also made her presence felt offensively for the Flying Titans with 19 points, while Cherry Nunag and rookie Lorraine Pecaña contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Choco Mucho faced several challenges throughout the match, including in the fifth set where they initially trailed 0-2. However, they rallied back to take an 8-5 lead, highlighter by three blocks from Pecaña.
Galeries Tower made their last push as they cut the deficit to 10-11, but Pecaña and Desiree Cheng connected three straight points for a 14-10 lead before Rondina ended the match with a powerful hit.
Rookie Jewel Encarnacion led the Highrisers with 18 points, while Ysa Jimenez, France Ronquillo, and Julia Coronel contributed 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively. They dropped to 0-2.
Meanwhile, Akari Power Chargers secured a 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23 victory against the new-look ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.
Ivy Lacsina led the way with 24 points, including 22 attacks, to be named Player of the Game as the Power Chargers grabbed the solo first place in the standings with a 2-0 win-loss slate.
Negrense Christine Joy Soyud also provided support offensively for Akari with 15 points, while Grethcel Soltones concluded the match with 10 markers, including some crucial points in the fourth set.
“Sobrang haba ng process na pinagdaan namin to gain this confidence pero hindi pa ganun kapulido. Pero team work at sistema ni coach at puso ang nagpanalo sa amin,” said Lacsina in a post-game interview./PN
