Choco Mucho still a work in progress, admits coach Dante Alinsunurin

Coach Dante Alinsunurin and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Coach Dante Alinsunurin is taking Choco Mucho’s tough straight-set loss to Petro Gazz in stride, stressing that things are just getting started for the Flying Titans in 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

The Flying Titans were sent crashing by their former coach Oliver Almadro and the Angels, who scored a statement 25-18, 25-20, 25-21, on Tuesday at FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Alinsunurin, who suffered his first loss in the professional ranks, admitted his players had a somber mood at the dugout after failing to get their second straight win but the management reminded the team that they are still a work in progress under the new system.

“At first they were sad because of course it wasn’t the result we wanted. I explained to them that we’re not rushing [our progress] and we’re just getting started. Although these players have been together for a long time, they are still adjusting to our new coaching system,” said the new Choco Mucho coach in Filipino.

“We’re not taking shortcuts. Whatever problem we see every game, we will find a solution,” he added.

Alinsunurin, who used to be Almadro’s rival coach in the men’s division both in the UAAP and Spikers’ Turf, said the Flying Titans were extra motivated in facing their former tactician, who called the shots from 2019 until he resigned in the middle of the Reinforced Conference last November to focus on Ateneo.

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“Of course, there’s [an added motivation] but I told them not to be pressured by the situation because all we want is to play and improve our game,” Alinsunurin said. “In whatever result we got, we have to learn from everything we do in every game.”

The Flying Titans were gracious in defeat and bowed to Almadro after the game with their opponents forcing a two-way tie with identical 1-1 records.

Alinsunurin said they have to be more consistent, especially in service reception, as the Angels dominated the attacking 48-29 with setter Deanna Wong underperforming with only seven excellent sets out of 102 attempts.

“We have to be more consistent in everything we do. We have to accept that we’re just getting started and we have to study the things we can improve for our next games,” he said. “Our service receive was a bit off in the game. That’s why we failed to execute the things we wanted to do inside the court because of our low-percentage service receive.”

The Choco Mucho coach is putting a premium on their service receive as they brace for their sister team rivalry match against the unbeaten Creamline, which dominated its first two games even without Alyssa Valdez, on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We have to work on our lapses for our next game because our system starts with a [good] service receive,” said Alinsunurin, who will face his good friend and former assistant coach in the men’s national team, Sherwin Meneses.