CHOCO Mucho shrugged off a slow second set to complete a 25-19, 13-25, 25-22, 25-20 takedown of Galeries Tower in the PVL on Tour on Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Center.
The Flying Titans ran a strong first game without their captain and top scorer Sisi Rondina, who is expected to miss PVL action for the rest of the year as she resumes Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball duties.
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They are also still dealing with injury concerns involving key spikers in Dindin Santiago-Manabat (knee) and Kat Tolentino (ear).
Even so, Choco Mucho still led by as much as seven in Set 1 through veteran mainstays in team captain Des Cheng (13 points and 11 digs), Royse Tubino (eight points) and Isa Molde, who topscored with 20 points on 19 attacks and one block.
"Grabe rin kasi yung tiwala ko sa teammates ko na alam ko na magde-deliver din sila so hindi naging mahirap yung responsibility ko sa team kasi nandiyan naman sila para suportahan kami," Molde said.
The Highrisers showed signs of life in the second frame as their No. 2 overall draft pick Jean Asis took over on offense, scoring 10 points after just two sets in her PVL debut to tie the match at one set apiece.
The Far Eastern University standout essayed a 16-point game in the first chapter of her pro career.
Choco Mucho’s Adamson-bred rookies Jen Villegas and Ayesha Juegos seized their first taste of action in the pros by stepping up in the scoring front to put Galeries Tower away in four sets.
They produced seven points each.
Villegas, the Flying Titans’ 19th overall pick, banked on her longstanding chemistry with former Lady Falcon-turned-free agent signing Juegos — who fired the match-clinching point, to secure winning PVL debuts in Batangas.
Sky's the limit for Highrisers
Sans national team setter Julia Coronel, veteran playmaker Fhen Emnas posted 22 excellent sets in a Highrisers team with a stronger frontline following Asis' addition.
Apart from Asis' 16 markers, mainstays Jewel Encarnacion and Ysa Jimenez combined for 27 markers to complete a promising first act for Galeries Tower's newest scoring trio.
Asis & Co. earns a second shot at a maiden win on Sunday against Petro Gazz, 4 p.m. at the same venue.
Choco Mucho will close out the Batangas leg of the league's preseason tilt versus Nxled.
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