CHOCO Mucho beat sister team Creamline for the very first time in franchise history with a 13-25, 19-25, 21-25, 20-25, 18-16 fightback to begin the single-round play of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena.
Sisi Rondina powered a breakthrough reverse-sweep with 23 points built on 21 attacks, one block and one ace to lay to rest the Flying Titans’ 12-game losing streak to Creamline dating back to the team's inception in 2019.
She capped her performance with the last two points of the match.
READ: Tots Carlos to miss out on at least one Creamline semifinal game
More importantly, Choco Mucho chalked up an all-important first win in its three-game semifinal assignments, which includes matches against Chery Tiggo (May 2) and Petro Gazz (May 5) still to come.
"Finally. 'Yun lang talaga (masasabi ko) kasi ilang conferences na namin silang (Creamline) pinaghandaan pero parang short kami palagi. But finally, grabe 'yung pinagdaanan namin," said Choco Mucho's first-ever team captain Maddie Madayag, who dished out eight points built on a staggering seven blocks and one attack.
"Although pangit 'yung first two sets namin, at least nakabawi kami and sabi ni Coach Dante (Alinsunurin), teamwork lang talaga and very grateful lang kami kay Lord. ‘Thank you Lord’ kami nang ‘Thank you Lord’ nila Mars (Alba) kasi dami nang nagca-cramps, walang nai-injure sa'min pero hindi niya kami pinabayaan and lumaban din naman talaga kami," she added.
Playing without ace spiker Tots Carlos, who is in Korea to participate in the three-day Korean V-League (KOVO) tryouts, the Cool Smashers wreaked havoc in the first two sets with Michele Gumabao (18 points) taking over Carlos' lead opposite hitter role.
But standing on the verge of a 13th straight loss to their sister club, the Flying Titans picked up the pace and got the job done when it mattered most.
Royse Tubino rose to the occasion with 20 markers and 12 excellent digs — one enabled by Alinsunurin's in-game decision to switch Tubino from her original opposite hitter role to a second outside hitter to back Rondina up in the home stretch. From there, Isa Molde took on the opposite hitter role and fired 12 ponts to aid Choco Mucho's cause.
Meanwhile, Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez' conference-high 21-point night and Jema Galanza's 23-piece were both spoiled as the defending champions dropped their first assignment in a short Final Four campaign.
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