WHILE Creamline has a surplus of setters on hand, its sister team Choco Mucho seems to be having a sudden deficit.
There are four known Flying Titans playmakers to date in Deanna Wong, Jem Ferrer, Mars Alba and newly-drafted Fil-American setter Tia Andaya.
Only the former two are listed in Choco Mucho’s lineup for the two-month PVL on Tour.
READ: Choco Mucho stays locked in amid injuries, roster problems
The latter two have been called up for Alas Pilipinas duties in the 2025 VTV Cup from June 28 to July 5, but still won’t see action for their mother team until the national team period ends on October 15.
But apparently, for Alba in particular, there’s more to her Choco Mucho absence than just being with Alas.
SPIN.ph caught wind of Alba’s rumored exit from the Flying Titans before the PVL on Tour went underway last week, for reasons unknown - or yet to be confirmed at the very least.
Fueling such speculations was Alba’s absence from the Rebisco teams’ partnership event with Allianz PNB Life on June 20 — where Wong, Ferrer, and even Andaya were all present.
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin was tight-lipped when asked about Alba’s status with.
"Sa ngayon, ang status ni Mars, siyempre, nasa Alas. 'Yun lang ang masasabi ko,” Alinsunurin said.
When it comes to Andaya still unable to train with the team, the Flying Titans mentor is opting to focus on long-term gains with their newest setter acquisition than short-term concerns from her temporary absence.
“‘Yung future naman ‘yung tinitignan ko, ‘yung future ng team,” he said.
“Alam namin na nasa kanya [Andaya] ‘yung mga hinahanap namin para sa team. In a few years, tingin ko makaka-catch up siya at makakasabay sa [level ng] laro sa Pilipinas.”
How about Creamline?
To an extent, having too many players in one position can be as much a problem than not having plenty of options to choose from.
With the Cool Smashers, they have three listed playmakers on their PVL on Tour roster in two-time best setter Kyle Negrito, Mafe Galanza, and an on-leave Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete whose Creamline contract is reportedly set to expire by the end of the year.
That number will soon go up to four once Alas captain and eight-time PVL best setter Jia de Guzman returns to the team by the end of the national team period.
As far as the preseason is concerned, it’s as simple as starting Negrito and fielding Galanza occasionally for head coach Sherwin Meneses.
But the impending dilemma of re-adjusting the Cool Smashers' starting rotation, in which Negrito might have to take a step back after almost two years as lead setter, is one Meneses described as a ‘good problem.’
“Mahirap yung tanong mo kasi mahirap yung sagot ko diyan eh,” Meneses said.
“Siyempre yung Jia, talagang nandiyan na. Si Kyle naman, talagang pinagtrabahuhan niya yung spot niya sa Creamline, pero it’s a good problem sabi nga namin,” he added.
Will it be a matter of de Guzman retaking the lead setter role or playing second fiddle to Negrito, at least in the early goings of her return?
Only time will tell for Meneses and Creamline.
“‘Di pa siguro [problema ‘yan] ngayon. Actually, hindi rin naman siya malaking problema,” he said.
“Let’s see na lang kung sino talaga yung maipapasok sa loob, pero knowing Jia naman, experienced na talaga siya at lalo na’t naka-experience na siya [ng laro] sa Japan. Let’s see na lang talaga kasi mahirap din magbigay ng kung sino talaga ang mauuna.”
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