CHOCO Mucho gave interim coach Edjet Mabbayad a winning start with a sweep of UAI-Army, 26-24, 25-10, 25-17 in the 2022 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win gave the Flying Titan's semifinal bid a much-needed boost in their first game since Oliver Almandro stepped down as coach saying he wants to focus on college squad Ateneo Blue Eagles.
[READ: Almandro resigns as Choco Mucho coach to focus on Ateneo]
The Flying Titans improved to 3-3 (win-loss) while dealing the Lady Troopers a sixth successive loss.
"Malaking bagay to para maibalik yung kumpiyansa ng mga bata. Syempre medyo hindi maganda yung nangyari samin nung past two games so sobrang laking bagay 'to," Mabbayad said as he called the shots after Oliver Almadro resigned.
Kat Tolentino hit the game-tallying point in the first set, 24-24, to finish 14 points on 11 attacks and two aces.
Odina Aliyeva was at the forefront of the Titans' scoring load with game-high 20 points on 17 attacks, two blocks and an ace to go along with 11 receptions and seven digs
Denden-Lazaro Revilla returned after not playing in Choco Mucho's five-set loss to Akari and tallied nine receptions. But team captain Bea De Leon did not play today due to back spasm.
The Lady Troopers looked to steal the first set after a successful block touch challenge, 24-23, but Tolentino, Odina and Des Chenge combined to score the Titan's last three points.
It was a different story in the second set where the Flying Titans dominated the Lady Troopers in all angles - 16-6 in attacks, two to nothing in blocks, and three to nothing in aces.
Royse Tubino was the lone bright spot for the Lady Troopers who had 14 points.
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