CHOCO Mucho booked its third playoff appearance in four conferences by fending off 8-seed Chery Tiggo, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference qualifying round on Friday at the Philsports Arena.
Down 16 to 21 in the third set, team captain Sisi Rondina rallied ‘Ube Nation’ on to take the fourth spot in the playoffs.
She'd take care of business against the Crossovers with 16 points on 14 attacks, one block and one ace.
Veteran winger Dindin Santiago-Manabat landed the finishing touches to Choco Mucho's winning start to the postseason with 13 attacks.
The Flying Titans have now won seven in a row, including its last six prelims matches, since December last year when they lost in four sets to their sister team and defending champion Creamline.
What's been working so far for the red-hot Flying Titans is the indubitable trust they have with each other even in the face of adversity.
"‘Yung pinanghahawakan ko is ‘yung tiwala ko sa team, sa sistema ni coach Dante (Alinsunurin), sa mga teammates ko na araw-araw nagpapakahirap. Du'n mo makikita na every game, 100 percent lalaban at 100 percent kayang manalo," said Santiago-Manabat.
"Huwag lang magpapabaya."
Up next for Choco Mucho is either in-form PLDT or resurgent ZUS Coffee in the best-of-three quarterfinals.
One last drive
Meanwhile, Chery Tiggo will have to work its way back to playoff contention in Pool B of the play-in tournament with Nxled and the loser of the PLDT-ZUS Coffee qualifying round tie.
Ara Galang's 18-point, 12-dig double-double along with Shaya Adorador's 12-point performance went for naught.
Hence, the Crossovers are left with a one-third chance of still reaching the playoffs and two-thirds chance of entering the draft lottery for a top four pick.
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