Maddie Madayag knows Choco Mucho can match up with Creamline

Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Maddie Madayag. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Despite losing to Creamline in Finals Game 1, Maddie Madayag’s rock-solid blocking proved to be a silver lining for Choco Mucho as it seeks to force a decider in their best-of-three series in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) second All-Filipino Conference.

Madayag left everything on the floor as she tallied a game-high seven blocks to finish with 18 points only for the Flying Titans to fall short against the ‘three-peat’-seeking Cool Smashers, 23-25, 25-19, 24-26, 22-25, in their series opener on Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“For me, I just did my job and what I can contribute inside the court. Whoever scores for us or whatever, it’s our job. I didn’t really think about how many points or blocks I had. I embraced the role given to me,” said Madayag in Filipino after losing in their PVL finals debut.

Madayag and the Flying Titans took time to absorb the learnings and feel their first Finals loss before moving on during Friday’s preparation, seeking to find a solution to force a rubber match when they play in Game 2 on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The star middle blocker, who has been displaying her resurgence this tournament from an ACL injury two years ago, remained optimistic of Choco Mucho’s chances in the Finals, believing they need everyone from their team to step up to match the depth of Creamline.

“Honestly, I think we’re just lacking in personnel. We can match up with Creamline, but they have a lot of options. If their spiker is not effective, there’s someone else who steps up. We’re still lacking in terms of that but I’m proud of what my teammates showed inside the court,” Madayag said.

“Against a veteran team who has been there at the top for so long. We’re the challengers and there was a lot to learn from this game but the coaches said we just need back to the drawing board and prepare for Saturday’s game.”

It may be the Flying Titans’ first time to play in the PVL Finals but they pushed the Cool Smashers to their limits before losing in four sets.

Madayag, Sisi Rondina Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong, and Bea De Leon are no longer strangers in the championship stage after Ateneo beat the Rondina-led University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 81 finals in 2019.

But Madayag stressed that the pro stage is way different and they can’t afford to commit mistakes against the winningest PVL club.

“It’s a different thing being in the professional finals. In the UAAP, you can afford some mistakes but here when you reach the finals, you need to have a different aura. Your mindset has to be different coming into the finals, and that’s where Creamline has the advantage. They have the experience,” she said.