Choco Mucho outlasts PLDT, seals semifinal duel with Creamline

Kat Tolentino (No. 10) and Aduke Ogunsanya (No. 11) form a fearsome 1-2 Choco Mucho punch. —PVL

Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino is thrilled by the coming matchup against “big sister team” Creamline in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference best-of-three semifinals, even if the towering opposite hitter knows the odds are stacked against them.

“It’s exciting given that it’s against a sister team, but we’ll treat them as any other team,” said Tolentino, minutes after leading the Flying Titans to a 25-21, 23-25, 29-31. 25-15, 15-11 victory over PLDT that sewed up that series. “But for sure we have to step up.”

It’s the same sentiment for their coach, Oliver Almadro, who said the “great champion team” Cool Smashers will test their limit in Game 1 set for Friday also at Filoil Flying V Centre where a jampacked, roaring crowd witnessed the classic five-setter.

“This is the playoffs, it’s a matter of whose character is effective, whose mindset is ready,” said Almadro. “And it’s about mental toughness.”

PLDT came out raring to challenge that twice-to-beat shield that Choco Mucho had, beating them through sheer hard work and tenacity in the second and third sets before imploding with errors in the next two periods.

PLDT committed 43 errors against Choco Mucho’s 26. INQ