Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino. –PVL PHOTO
With its back pressed hard against the wall, Choco Mucho on Thursday needed the best from Kat Tolentino and Ponggay Gaston in the fifth set for a 25-21, 25-17, 22-25, 10-25, 16-14 win over PLDT that fanned the Flying Titans’ semifinals hopes in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational at San Juan Arena.
Returning from health and safety protocols for the club’s most important game of the conference, Tolentino came away with 27 points built on 24 attacks and had 22 digs to help Choco Mucho end a three-game slide and improve to 2-3, staying in semis hunt.
“That’s what I’m asking from the team—to be a never say die team in this league,” said Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro. “My players are not really 100 percent in condition. But Kat is hundred percent in character.
“That’s the character. We may be two-men down, but I’m happy that most of them stepped up when they are needed.”
Jema Galanza led Creamline’s balanced attack in repulsing also-ran Chery Tiggo, 25-14, 25-20, 21-25, 28-26, as the Cool Smashers formalized their entry into the playoffs.
Galanza delivered 23 points, all but two off attacks, as the Cool Smashers improved to 4-1 after the two-hour duel.
Gaston scored four of her nine points in the fifth. But Choco Mucho has to sweep or win by four sets in its final elimination game against Petro Gazz on Saturday for a chance to enter the next round.
The Flying Titans blew a two-set lead, absorbing a 15-point rout in the fourth set that paced the High Speed Hitters’ 6-2 start in the decider. But Tolentino and Gaston refused to give up as they nailed the timely hits with the towering Tolentino drilling a back row kill to give Choco Mucho a 9-7 lead.
“Our semifinals hope is still alive. We will never say die. We will fight until the end,” added Almadro.
Dell Palomata brought the momentum back to PLDT with back-to-back blocks on Isa Molde for 10-9, before Mika Reyes gave PLDT the lead for the last time at 12-11.
Tolentino then had the last of her two blocks on a Jules Samonte attempt and then drilled a clutch hit to push Choco Mucho to match point, 14-13.
Toni Basas and Samonte led PLDT with 17 points each. Palomata had 16 points, including four blocks, while Reyes added 13 points.
The High Speed Hitters, who slid to 3-2 in a tie with Army Black Mamba, have another chance to book an outright semis ticket when they play sister team, Cignal, on Saturday.