Choco Mucho newest recruits: wing spiker Mean Mendrez, setter Mars Alba, and libero Bia General
MANILA, Philippines — After losing three key players, Choco Mucho has signed wing spiker Mean Mendrez, setter Mars Alba, and libero Bia General ahead of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
Hours after Inquirer broke the departure of Bea De Leon and Denden Lazaro-Revilla transferring to sister team Creamline, sources privy to the situation bared that the Flying Titans already signed three players to improve their roster coming from their first PVL finals appearance last December.
The source bared that Mendrez was the first to agree to sign with Choco Mucho after parting ways with PLDT and she is out to bolster the wing spiker rotation bannered by reigning MVP Sisi Rondina, Kat Tolentino, Isa Molde, and Regine Arocha, while Des Cheng is still recovering from an ACL injury.
The Inquirer has sought Choco Mucho members for confirmation but they have yet to respond as of posting time including the transfer of De Leon and Revilla.
The height and scoring prowess of Mendrez will boost the Flying Titans after Caitlin Viray also parted ways with the team, following her breakthrough in the 2023 season.
Another source shared that Choco Mucho got its longtime wish in Alba, who chose the Titans as her next team after the disbandment of F2 Logistics. The team has been eyeing the UAAP Season 85 champion and Best Setter since she graduated from La Salle but she decided to stay with F2.
Alba will be joining star setter Deanna Wong and veteran playmaker Jem Ferrer, while General, who played for Cignal last season, will team up with Best Libero Thang Ponce after Revilla’s departure.
The team is seeking to sign a veteran outside/opposite spiker but the same source refused to give the name for the privacy of their ongoing negotiation.
The Flying Titans played their best outing yet in the second All-Filipino, winning 10 straight matches to finish second in the 11-game elimination round before overcoming Cignal in three semifinal games and making their maiden finals berth in coach Dante Alinsunurin’s first season.