Choco Mucho’s Sisi Rondina during a game against Vietnam in the VTV Cup. Photo from VTV The Thao Facebook
MANILA, Philippines—Choco Mucho ran out of steam and dropped a 25-20, 28-26, 21-25, 20-25, 9-15 heartbreaker against Vietnam 2 in the 2023 VTV International Women’s Volleyball Cup at Lào Cai Gymnasium in Vietnam.
The Flying Titans had a convincing showing in the first two sets before crumbling when it mattered most. and succumbing to a 2-2 record in the Vietnam leg.
Choco Mucho, which slipped to 2-2, had a chance to win it in straight sets with the score knotted at 20-all in the third set. But the Vietnamese refused to lose and fired four unanswered points to reach match point.
Choco Mucho vs Vietnam 2 in the VTV Cup. Photo from VTV The Thao Facebook
Sisi Rondina converted a crosscourt kill to try and mount a comeback effort but L. T. Thuy responded with a hit to get her team on the board.
Reinvigorated, the Vietnamese pulled even with Thuy coming through anew to force a deciding fifth set, where the Flying Titans trailed 5-8 and never recovered.
Deanna Wong’s service error capped off Choco Mucho’s collapse as Vietnam 2 hiked its record to 4-0.
The Flying Titans face Suwon City next on Wednesday night.