MONTALBAN — CHOCO Mucho saved its best for last with a 25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-21 win over Akari in its final match of the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Ynares Center II.
This marks the third straight edition of import-laced play where the Flying Titans failed to reach the playoffs, after finishing seventh in 2022 and ninth in 2024.
The consolation win snapped Choco Mucho’s four-game skid to end their campaign at 3–5. It marked only the second and final victory of American import Marlee Smith's PVL debut stint to forget, who also turned in the game-winning kill to cap her 18-point night.
"We played very composed and our hard work gave us positive results. It's sad to walk away but however I do still believe that they can do good things with or without me," Smith said.
"I'm excited to see where they head next but most of all, I just want to say thank you to everyone who believed in me and supported me through everything because it's been a long journey and I'm just excited to see where things take them from here."
Choco Mucho snatched a tight first set, capitalizing on crucial setting errors from Kamille Cal, who came in as a late substitute in the home stretch.
Akari fought back to even the match in the second set, but failed to close out a big third-set comeback.
The Chargers erased four set points in an Annie Mitchem-powered rally, cutting a 19-24 deficit to 23-24.
Royse Tubino, anchoring the Flying Titans’ local core with a 20-point, 11-reception, 10-dig triple-double, then delivered a down-the-line kill to swing the momentum back and eventually hand the win to now-eliminated Choco Mucho.
Isa Molde shone for the Flying Titans with nine points, 13 digs, and 13 receptions, while Maddie Madayag added nine more markers.
Deanna Wong ran the show from the playmaking end, dishing out 24 excellent sets and adding a point of her own.
Pre-playoffs stumble
Annie Mitchem put up another 30-piece, exactly 30 points, along with 22 receptions and eight digs, but it ultimately went for naught.
Eli Soyud led the locals with 17 markers, supported by seven-point efforts from middle blockers Fifi Sharma and Ced Domingo.
Mars Alba orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets in her first game against her former team.
Amid those impressive numbers, Ivy Lacsina made a brief return, appearing twice in the first and fourth sets, though she didn’t score.
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