Choco Mucho Flying Titans. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Choco Mucho proved it’s got the talent and the attitude to beat the team known for those attributes, winning over F2 Logistics in a gripping rumble, 21-25, 28-26, 25-20, 25-22, Thursday night and claiming the No. 2 spot in Pool A of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at Paco Arena in Manila.
The Flying Titans kept their poise in the midst of the Cargo Movers’ flashy presence and persistence to also nail the twice-to-beat incentive when they go up against the PLDT High Speed Hitters in the quarterfinals on Monday.
Making it more remarkable, it was new Choco Mucho recruits Desiree Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya, former F2 Logistics stalwarts, who helped discover and exploit the Cargo Movers’ weakness which is primarily their shallow rotation.
“Personally I think it all boils down to trusting not just myself but my teammates,” said Choco Mucho setter Deanna Wong in Filipino. She finished with 45 excellent sets and five points aside from working on team chemistry with newcomers Cheng and Ogunsanya.
“We were only given one month to play with each other but we trusted each other enough, and for Des it’s a big thing that she was playing against her former team,” added Wong.
With the match on the line, Cheng dumped in a winner for 21-18 to give the Flying Titans a breather in the fourth set as the Cargo Movers appeared to have run out of options and felt the absence of scoring machine Kalei Mau even more.
“It feels wonderful and great,” added Wong. “We will celebrate this one for the moment, but it’s not over yet.”
For F2 Logistics, it was a big loss as it will now take on PetroGazz, the top 2 club in Pool B which will even have a twice-to-beat incentive over the Cargo Movers.