Choco Mucho begins VTV Cup campaign vs Japan’s Kansai University

Choco Mucho Flying Titans. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho is eager to make the most of its upcoming stint in the VTV Cup international women’s volleyball tournament in Lao Cai, Vietnam in preparation for the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season-ending All-Filipino Conference.

The Flying Titans, led by Sisi Rondina, Deanna Wong, Maddie Madayag, and Des Cheng, flew to Vietnam on Wednesday night for its upcoming overseas stint.

Choco Mucho is competing against the national teams of Australia and Vietnam as well as  Japan’s Kansai University, and South Korea’s Suwon City.

The PVL club will kick off its campaign against Kansai University on Saturday before facing Vietnam 1, led by national stars Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Doan Thi Lam Oanh, on the next day.

Choco Mucho takes on Australia and Vietnam 2 on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, and will wrap up its elimination campaign against Suwon on Wednesday as the top two teams will clash in the championship game, third and fourth-ranked squads dispute the bronze, while the bottom two will play in a classification match.

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The Flying Titans coach Dante Alinsunurin is looking forward to the learnings they can gain from international squads as they seek to rise from seventh place in the Invitational Conference last July.

“This international exposure will have a huge impact on our team,” said Alinsunurin right after his college team National University won its first V-League Collegiate Challenge men’s match at the Paco Arena. “We all know that this kind of international competition will boost the confidence of our players.”

“We want to rise from our previous standing of seventh place (Invitational Conference). We want to reach the [PVL] Final Four,” he added as the Flying Titans have been missing the PVL semis for four straight tournaments.

Completing the Choco Mucho squad are Invitational Conference breakout star Caitlin Viray, Bea De Leon, Kat Tolentino, Cherry Nunag, Maika Ortiz, Aduke Ogunsanya, Isa Molde, Regine Arocha, Jem Ferrer, Denden Lazaro-Revilla, and Thang Ponce.

The Philippines is competing in the VTV Cup for the first time since 2015 when the country sent a national team selection but finished last place in the six-team field.