PVL: ‘Win it for each other’ is Choco Mucho’s mantra in semis chase

Choco Mucho celebrates crucial win in the PVL Invitationals. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Ponggay Gaston said Choco Mucho is determined to win it for each other as the Flying Titans make their final push for the semifinals against the also-ran Petro Gazz on Saturday in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference at San Juan Arena.

However, Choco Mucho needs to sweep its last elimination game against Petro Gazz at 5:30 p.m., and hope for either or both Army Black Mamba and PLDT to lose in straight sets to advance to the next round via set ratio to break the tie.

The Flying Titans hold a 2-3 record with six points, while the Lady Troopers and High Speed Hitters are tied at 3-2 both with nine points each as they face semis-bound teams Creamline and Cignal, respectively.

With their fate depending on the first two games of Saturday’s triple header, Gaston believes Choco Mucho will do whatever it takes to make it to the next round.

“We’re gonna work hard, and we’re gonna win it for each other. We will stick together in this beautiful journey,” said Gaston in Filipino after scoring four of her nine points in the fifth set in their nail-biting 25-21, 25-17, 22-25, 10-25, 16-14 win over PLDT on Thursday.

“This is our last chance. I think we will play all out and we will study (the game),” she added.

The former Ateneo captain rose to the occasion in the fifth set against PLDT after hearing someone from Choco Mucho’s bench say: “Win it for each other.”

Gaston propelled the Flying Titans’ comeback from a 2-6 deficit and joined hands with Kat Tolentino to bag the much-needed win and end a three-game skid, keeping their semifinal hopes alive.

“In the fifth set, when we had our last timeout, I heard someone say that “win it for each other” so I think that was something that stuck with me and the team looking at each other at each point. We really did our best in that fifth set even we were down by a few points,” she said.

“We did it for each other. We did it for everyone from the bench our coaching staff and all the players.“

The 24-year-old spiker was glad to see how the Flying Titans stuck together even amid all the circumstances, including missing the services of  Tolentino and three other players in the past two games due to health and safety protocols and Aduke Ogunsanya suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

Gaston vows to keep the same mindset of winning their last elimination for each other to make it to the semis round, where guest teams Kobe Shinwa University of Japan and KingWhale Taipei will spice up the midseason conference.