THE pain of defeat the second time around still stings for Choco Mucho captain Maddie Madayag.
Just like how the last conference ended, Creamline had the final say in a two-game championship sweep of Choco Mucho — this time for the Cool Smashers’ eighth Premier Volleyball League (PVL) title.
A silver lining in the Flying Titans’ second straight silver-medal finish is the fact that they’ve ended a five-year, 12-game skid to their sister team once and for all in their 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals opener.
READ: Sisi out to prove she belongs in debut for indoor national team
However, such a breakthrough feat won’t be replicated even after two tries in the title series as an encore of last conference’s championship unfolded with Creamline winning the title and Choco Mucho falling short once again.
As one of the team’s pioneer members, an emotional Madayag reflected on the pain of being at the losing end of a one-sided sibling rivalry.
Nonetheless, the Choco Mucho captain couldn’t be prouder of how far the team has come this conference despite the injury-prompted absences of Kat Tolentino (ear), Des Cheng (ACL) and Aduke Ogunsanya (ACL) and the departure of mainstays Bea de Leon and Denden Lazaro-Revilla for Creamline.
“I'm still very proud of the team lalo na’t ang daming nabawasan sa amin no. Sabi nga ng coaches, lalo na nu’ng nawala si Kat (Tolentino), parang they didn't expect us to sweep the semis kasi we were down three people already,” said Madayag.
“But I always say na basta may nahuhulog na teammate, palaging may nagse-step up para bawian. I'm very happy with the run kahit na kinapos na naman kami. Sobrang proud pa rin ako sa naging performance ng team,” she added.
There’s no concealing the fact, however, that missing out on a Game Three still hurts for Madayag, who nonetheless looks at it as fuel to rise back up and fight back again.
“Sobrang pinaghugutan namin ‘yung teammates namin na wala, pero kinapos kami. Naiyak lang din ako kasi masakit na masakit talaga. Kung na-extend pa namin ‘yung series, lalaban talaga kami at lalaban para makuha ‘yung championship,” said Madayag.
“Ang sarap sa feeling siguro na nanalo kami kahit na wala ‘yung ibang teammates namin, parang redemption din for them in a way. Pero sabi ko sa kanila, ‘wag tayong malulungkot. Kailangan nating tanggapin kasi ito ‘yung binigay ni Lord sa atin. ‘Di man tayo umabot sa goal na gusto natin, I believe that in God's perfect time makukuha rin namin (‘yung championship),” she added.
Choco Mucho's high-speed, five-year rise
The last five years for Choco Mucho have been nothing short of a rollercoaster.
But if Madayag, the team’s first-ever captain and still is to this day, will point out one particular difference from the original 2017 Flying Titans squad to the current group, it’s the maturity and experience they now have under their belts.
“Malayo, sobrang layo na. Ngayon may dalawang finals experience na kami na madadala sa team. Sobrang layo ng maturity na inabot namin lalo na from 2021 (sa Ilocos buubble) na mga bata ‘yung nandu’n. Wala masyadong veterans, except si Ate Den (Lazaro-Revilla),” said Madayag.
It’s been a winding journey thus far, to say the least, and Madayag is proud to have played a part in building the team from the ground up.
“Sobrang layo ng naabot ng team and I'm just proud of where we are right now.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
