AN uphill battle awaits Choco Mucho when they kickstart the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in July without two of its aces in Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag.
READ: All you need to know about the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft
The Flying Titans pair are set to miss a significant chunk of the import-laden conference as Rondina and Nunag will join Alas Pilipinas in the 2024 FIVB Women's Volleyball Challenger Cup this month and the 2024 Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League in August.
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin confirmed the development and bared an oncoming 'personnel problem' on Monday during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night where he was feted as the UAAP Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year for completing a four-peat with National University.
"Honestly ngayon, na-momroblema kami sa tao talaga kasi kulang na kami before nu'ng naglaro kami ng championship tapos nabawasan pa kami ng dalawa. Sobrang mahirap para sa'min, mahirap mag-training," said Alinsunurin.
"Siguro umaasa na lang kami ngayon sa mga free agents, darating na draft picks kung sino 'yung pwedeng makuha namin or makatulong sa'min pagdating ng second conference."
And on Rondina and Nunag, the PVL's adherence to the International Volleyball Federation's (FIVB) national team calendar from May 16 to October 15 means Alas players won't be able to play for their club teams.
Alinsunurin, however, plans to call on the PVL to allow Alas players to rejoin their PVL squads at the earliest possible time even before the end of the national team calendar for as long as there are no more forthcoming national team competitions within the window.
"Ang alam ko is sa national team lang sila (Rondina and Nunag) pero nag-rerequest kami siguro sa kanila na kung pwede sana kapag tapos na 'yung mga liga nila, pwede na ulit sila maglaro sa'min," Alinsunurin said.
"Talagang sure na 'yun (na hindi muna sila maglalaro sa PVL) kasi ang (mga competitions) nila is ngayong July at August sa SEA V.League kaya siguradong mawawala sila. Umaasa na lang kami na matapos agad 'yung SEA V.League and anytime na makaabot man kami sa Invitationals ay makalaro sila."
Injury bug biting Choco Mucho hard
Rondina and Nunag's expected absences aren't the only missing pieces at present for the Flying Titans.
Des Cheng (knee), Aduke Ogunsanya (knee) and Kat Tolentino (ear) are all still on the mend from their respective injuries.
There isn't a fixed timetable for any of the three Flying Titan mainstays' returnsbut Alinsunurin is optimistic they'll be able to see action not too long from now.
"Si Des (Cheng), nag-start na rin siyang mag-training pero siyempre, sobrang baba pa ng porsyento sa ginagawa, 30 percent pa lang sa talagang totally na ginagawa niya.
"Si Kat (Tolentino) naman, nag-start na rin siya. Siguro at least mga 50 percent na 'yung movement before na ginagalaw niya. Unti-unti na ring nakaka-recover," Alinsunurin
"Then si Aduke (Ogunsanya), ganun pa rin, nag-rerehab pa rin para 'yung movement niya, maiyos na."
A busy few weeks await Choco Mucho and the rest of the PVL with the inaugural Rookie Draft slated on July 8, preceded by the Draft Lottery (June 24) and two-day Draft Combine (June 25 to 26), all before the Reinforced Conference begins mid-July,
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