CHOCO Mucho took flight in taking its fourth straight win at Akari’s expense, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15, in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.
After three close sets, it was all Sisi Rondina for Choco Mucho as they left a shell-shocked Akari at bay with a 10-point fourth-set shutout.
The Flying Titans break into the top five of the team standings at 6-3, stopping the Chargers’ unbeaten run after back-to-back wins against cellar-dwellers Capital1 and Nxled.
Akari drew level in a tight midtable logjam with Chery Tiggo at 5-5 ahead of its last prelims assignment against Cignal in 10 days’ time.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat continues to show traces of her vintage form with 12 markers on 11 attacks.
The Chargers' top scoring weapon in Ivy Lacsina paced a tough losing effort with 18 points and five receptions.
With 37 unforced errors, producing nearly twice as many faults Choco Mucho put out (19) cost Akari the game despite converting more successful blocks (10 to 6), aces (6 to 2) and receptions (20 to 15).
Regroup and recover
Veteran Choco Mucho playmaker Deanna Wong, who started off the bench, had 11 excellent sets in the win but rued how the team 'lost themselves' in the early goings of a tight battle.
"Maganda (laro namin) nu'ng una pero nu'ng pagdating ng second set, nag-lax kami," said Wong.
"Team effort talaga kasi ito (Sisi Rondina) nawala, ako nawala, si Isa (Molde) nawala. We were trying to be patient with each other and we were trying to help each other."
Moving forward, there shouldn't be space for any Flying Titan to be a one-woman show during difficult in-game stretches in pursuit of success.
"Hindi naman kasi isang tao lang makakapanalo ng game. 'Pag off ng receive, better the ball (distribution), cover ng palo, parang connected lang talaga siya sa gagawin namin."
Wong added: "Happy rin kasi onti-onti, we're reaching the goal na gusto naming marating so masaya kami na ganito."
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