CHOCO Mucho is expected to miss the services of veteran middle blocker Maddie Madayag for a 'few games' in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin confirmed the development to SPIN.ph on Wednesday after Madayag was notably absent during the team’s recent training camp in Thailand.
READ: Here's how much it costs to run a PVL team amid recent exits
“Wala pa muna [si Maddie] ng ilang games. Nagre-recover pa siya,” Alinsunurin said, while assuring fans that the two-time PVL best middle blocker is expected to see action later in the conference.
While the team did not disclose a specific injury, Madayag battled minor knee swelling during the year-ending Reinforced Conference, an issue that forced Choco Mucho to carefully manage her minutes in the preliminaries to prevent further aggravation.
Ready for a familiar problem
Dealing with absences has become a familiar challenge for the Flying Titans in recent years.
From the likes of Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong and Dindin Santiago-Manabat managing various fitness concerns to Sisi Rondina being called up for Alas Pilipinas duties, Choco Mucho often had to adjust on the fly.
This time, Alinsunurin believes the team is better equipped to weather another early setback after securing the quartet of Eya Laure, Caitlin Viray, Alina Bicar and middle blocker Jaila Atienza.
“Sobrang thankful ako sa binigay ng management na tao sa’kin na sinupportahan kami kung ano ‘yung nagiging problema namin every conference,” he said.
“At least may tatlong tao ako sa bawat position na ready talaga anytime na gamitin ko. Kung anuman ‘yung mangyari, may maipapalit ako.”
Despite losing middle blockers Aduke Ogunsanya and Cherry Nunag in the offseason, the Flying Titans will now turn to a younger frontline led by Lorraine Pecaña, Jen Villegas and newcomer Atienza to anchor the net defense.
That trio is expected to shoulder the load when Choco Mucho opens its All-Filipino Conference campaign against Akari on January 31, likely without Madayag in uniform.
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