Choco Mucho finally books PVL Finals berth after ousting Cignal
Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina hugs setter Deanna Wong. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Choco Mucho was nowhere near championship contention in the last Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference. In fact, the Flying Titans—despite the huge following they command and the star-laden team that they are—have never come close to winning a title.
Tapping Dante Alinsunurin as coach and making Sisi Rondina come out of her beach volleyball shell has changed all that as the Flying Titans finally got over the hump with a hard-fought 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23 victory over Cignal on Tuesday night at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City for a shot at the centerpiece championship.
Sisi Rondina recalls nervous wait for Choco Mucho’s clincher
Choco Mucho Flying Titan’s Sisi Rondina celebrates as her team enters the PVL Finals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—The ending of the match between Choco Mucho and Creamline in Game 3 of the 2023 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals was filled with much tension.
While the Flying Titans came out on top after four grueling sets, the journey getting there wasn’t rosy.
Just ask Sisi Rondina, who had a whirlwind of emotions in the final moments of the game.
Photos: Choco Mucho vs Cignal semis Game 3
Injured Des Cheng celebrates Choco Mucho’s trip to PVL Finals
'LORD, THANK YOU SA 'LITERAL' NA PLOT TWIST.' 💜
LOOK: Des Cheng celebrates the Choco Mucho Flying Titans' first-ever appearance in the Premier Volleyball League finals. #PVL2023 pic.twitter.com/v5qAjhTycU
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 12, 2023
PVL Finals: ‘Maturity’ will be key for Choco Mucho against Creamline
Kat Tolentino and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans face the formidable Creamline Cool Smashers in their first finals stint. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Every time Choco Mucho and Creamline faced off, the results have always been the same so far.
As of writing, the Cool Smashers hold a resounding 9-0 head-to-head record over the Flying Titans but that may all change in the series that matters the most: the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Finals.
Choco Mucho punched its ticket to the Finals after fending off Cignal in four sets, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23, at Philsports Arena on Tuesday and Kat Tolentino has an idea of what her team could use against a seasoned team in Creamline as the best-of-three series that begins on Thursday.
Video: Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino, coach Dante Alinsunurin and Sisi Rondina
Video: Choco Mucho celebrates after Cignal’s unsuccessful challenge
Choco Mucho reaches PVL Finals for first time, faces Creamline
Choco Mucho Flying Titans celebrate punching a ticket to the PVL Finals for the first time. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—For the first time since joining the Premier Volleyball League in 2019, the Choco Much Flying Titans will experience playing for the championship in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
Choco Mucho reached the 2023 PVL second All-Filipino conference final after disposing of a gritty Cignal squad, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24, 25-23, in Game 3 of the semifinals on Tuesday.
Choco Mucho, Creamline seal PVL Finals showdown
THE FINALS IS SET!
For the first time ever, sister teams Creamline and Choco Mucho will face each other in the title series of the Premier Volleyball League. #PVL2023 pic.twitter.com/oScbU4d6fB
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 12, 2023
Semifinals Game 3 score: Choco Mucho vs Cignal
FIRST. TIME. EVER.
FINAL: Choco Mucho reaches the PVL Finals for the first time since the franchise’s foundation after defeating Cignal in four sets. #PVL2023 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/lZpgwX2BiT
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 12, 2023
END OF SET 3: Choco Mucho jumps back in the driver’s seat with a 2-1 set lead after winning the third frame over Cignal, 26-24. #PVL2023 | @MeloFuertesINQ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 12, 2023
END OF SET TWO:
We’re tied at 1-all after Cignal takes the second set over Choco Mucho, 25-23. #PVL2023 @INQUIRERSports
— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) December 12, 2023
END OF SET 1: Choco Mucho takes a 1-0 lead over Cignal with a 25-20 win in the opening set. #PVL2023 | @MeloFuertesINQ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) December 12, 2023
PVL All-Filipino Semis Game 3 schedule (December 12)
Philsports Arena
6 p.m. – Cignal HD Spikers vs Choco Mucho Flying Titans
Choco Mucho, Cignal scramble for last PVL Finals ticket
Sisi Rondina looks to power Choco Mucho past Cignal and into a Finals showdown versus Creamline. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Choco Mucho had a rough start to its PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinal showdown against Cignal.
But the Flying Titans have remained faithful to their system, at the urging of coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“After [the Game 1 loss to Cignal] we just told ourselves to continue what we’re doing,” Alinsunurin said in Filipino shortly after his team dragged the HD Spikers to a knockout match with an emphatic Game 2 victory. “We encountered problems in Game 1 [but] I told [the players] that it’s part of the game.”
PVL: Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino attributes big game to ‘team effort’
Kat Tolentino.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Kat Tolentino rose to the occasion to help Choco Mucho save its campaign as the Flying Titans forced a rubber match against Cignal in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) second All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
With Sisi Rondina leading the way with 23 points, Tolentino provided solid support with 15 points in a 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 win in Game 2 on Saturday at Philsports Arena.