CHOCO Mucho powered through to the next stage of the knockout play-ins, routing ZUS Coffee, 21-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-11, 15-11, in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
Sisi Rondina made sure Choco Mucho won’t blow an early 12-5 edge, scoring six of her 27 points in the tiebreak alone, including the game-winning attack.
The seventh-ranked Flying Titans began the play-ins the same way it ended the preliminaries by beating the Thunderbelles, but with higher stakes this time as the win keeps them in the hunt for a semifinals berth.
Come Saturday, Choco Mucho will look to replicate its opening-day win over No. 6 seed Akari for a spot in the final stage of the play-in tournament.
"Sa simula pa lang, bago pa lang mag-start 'yung game, sinabi ko na sa kanila na all out tayo kasi wala nang bukas," said Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
"Ito na 'yung nangyari na talagang sinubukan kami hanggang dulo."
Maddie Madayag delivered from the middle with 19 markers on 14 attacks, three blocks and two aces.
Eya Laure added 13 points, Kat Tolentino chipped in 12 points and 10 digs and Deanna Wong orchestrated with 24 excellent sets.
Purple reign
The first two sets followed the same script, with one side chasing after early tight exchanges. ZUS Coffee struck first, only for Choco Mucho to answer in the next frame.
The pattern held in Sets 3 and 4, but with far more separation as Thea Gagate punctuated a 12-point romp for the Thunderbelles in the third, before Laure capped a 14-point blowout to force a decider.
In the fifth, Choco Mucho raced to an 8-2 lead, only for ZUS Coffee to claw back behind Kate Santiago to within 12-9.
That was as close as it got as Wong won a crucial joust against Gagate, setting up back-to-back attacks from Tolentino and Rondina that sealed the escape.
Riza Nogales led ZUS Coffee with 16 points highlighted by four blocks, while Gagate added 12 as the Thunderbelles closed their campaign on a seven-game slide.
Cess Robles flirted with a triple-double with nine points, 10 digs and 10 receptions, while Santiago and Chinnie Arroyo scored nine apiece.
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