CHOCO Mucho has long been troubled by roster problems, playing depleted over the last few PVL conferences.
In the ongoing PVL on Tour, the Flying Titans paraded a 13-woman lineup — one short of the maximum count — in their 25-19, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20 win over Galeries Tower on Saturday in Batangas City.
READ: Isa Molde leads Choco Mucho past Galeries Tower in four sets
Included in the shortlist of Choco Mucho’s missing players are Alas Pilipinas-bound Mars Alba, sevent-overall draft pick Tia Andaya and Sisi Rondina (beach volleyball).
Spikers Kat Tolentino (ear) and Dindin Santiago-Manabat (knee) are still recovering from their respective injuries.
But by now, newly-installed team captain Des Cheng said that they’re pretty much used to the challenges of playing with a short-handed deck of aces.
“‘Di ba, lagi niyong naririnig na kulang kami pero despite na kulang kami in your eyes, buo naman kami sa sarili namin, yung tiwala namin sa isa’t isa,” Cheng said.
“‘Yung tiwala ni coach, grabe no? Kita niyo ba yung paikot niya?”
That rotation Cheng pointed out featured rookie-spikers Jen Villegas and Ayesha Juegos saw extended minutes in their PVL debuts.
They landed seven points each, including Juegos’ game-winning hit in the fourth set.
For Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin, it was a gambit that had to be done out of necessity but one that paid off.
“Umpisa pa lang nung nagpractice sila, sobrang laki na ng impact sa amin kasi kulang kami,” Alinsunrin said.
“Pangalawa, alam mo yung energy nila sa loob na kahit na ‘di sila nagsasalita pero nakita namin na pinapakita talaga nila na yung energy nila para makakatulong sa team.
“Hindi naman ako nagulat pero sabi ko nga, kapag sila yung nasa loob ng court, nag-iiba yung dynamics ng team. Nagiging mabilis yung adjustments namin at nawawala yung pressure sa amin."
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