In the company of Titans, Mars Alba finds connection with attackers

Mars Alba (No. 9) is slowly finding out how to pull the strings of an attack line that includes the ultrapowerful Sisi Rondina (No. 18) in the PVL. —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Mars Alba has only spent a short amount of time with her new team Choco Mucho and yet she has already shown she is capable of leading the Flying Titans.

And coach Dante Alinsunurin, despite still yearning for a better outing from Choco Mucho two games into the All-Filipino Conference, knows how much they lucked out in getting the services of the former F2 Logistics playmaker.

“Like what I’ve said in the past, whatever our lapses were previously, this is the answer to what we want to happen in games,” Alinsunurin said when asked about having both Alba and mainstay Deanna Wong playing together for the first time.“Anytime we are struggling in the offense, I have someone to bring out if [we need a] change of tempo or situation,” Alinsunirin added in Filipino after Choco Mucho’s 2-0 start.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

In her debut with the Flying Titans, Alba found her chemistry with Sisi Rondina just in time to sweep Nxled, delivering 18 excellent sets in place of Wong, who did not suit up.

Alba followed that up with a much better outing in their thrilling five-set victory against Petro Gazz on late Tuesday night where she led Choco Mucho’s offense with 25 excellent sets resulting in five Flying Titans finishing in twin digits.

“I am getting the hang of my spikers but I still want to see more from myself because I need to catch up,” Alba said. “I am the only newcomer inside so I need to keep up with the system and their play.”

READ: PVL: Mars Alba determined to contribute more for Choco Mucho

But despite those strong starts, the former UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player knows she can do more after putting in the needed work under Alinsunurin’s system—the one that led Choco Mucho to its first-ever Finals appearance in the previous conference opposite the winningest Premier Volleyball League (PVL) team Creamline.

Going for gold

Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Mars Alba.—PVL IMAGES

“I still feel like I am lacking, but I am trying to follow coach Dante’s system,” Alba said in Filipino. “I think I need more connection with the ates (older sisters, a term of endearment for older teammates) because there is still a lack of it.

“But we’ll work for it.”

Even with manpower problems, Choco Mucho ended the preliminaries of last conference with a 10-1 winning run, before continuing that hot streak to the final four but hitting a brick wall against its sister team.

With the approach of continuous improvement, Choco Mucho’s competition should take it as a warning that the Flying Titans will not settle for less than the gold this time out.

READ: PVL: Deanna Wong says Mars Alba ‘can lead’ Choco Mucho

“I am really thankful that Mars agreed to join us,” Alinsunurin said. “What’s important for us now is that every time we have a [difficult] situation, we need to be able to maximize.”

And with Rondina, the ever-reliable figure for Choco Mucho on offense, combining forces with Alba, expect the Flying Titans to continue to soar.

“Whenever I am in front, she need not worry. If ever I commit a mistake, it’s not her fault,” Rondina said. “She’s new to our team [and] she is making an effort to connect.

“And I saw that we connected earlier.”