Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Sisi Rondina reacts after Creamline scores a point in a PVL All-FIlipino Conference game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho star Sisi Rondina admitted that defending champion Creamline exposed several lapses in their team as they head to the final week of the elimination round in the 2024 PVL All-FIlipino Conference.
The Flying Titans, coming off a four-game winning streak, were sent crashing back to earth by their sister team, Cool Smashers, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, on Thursday night before an ecstatic 17,396 crowd at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rondina, who was the lone double-digit scorer for Choco Mucho with 17 points, believes the tough loss just showed that they still have a lot to work on with one game remaining in the elimination round against Farm Fresh on Tuesday next week, hoping to secure a semifinal berth.
READ: PVL: Creamline dominates Choco Mucho in highly-anticipated clash
“Coach [Dante Alinsunurin] told us that we still have to improve a lot. We learned from this loss and we will work again. Back to the drawing board,” said Rondina in Filipino.
“My weakness was exposed, reception. It as hard to predict Creamline’s [tendencies] even we studied their game and prepared well.”
Remaining winless against the most successful PVL club in their 12th meeting, Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin, for his part, admitted that Creamline is a tough team to beat.
“It’s really hard to beat Creamline in this kind of situation. They imposed their strength, which made it hard for us to execute our game plan and adjust. They were well-prepared. For us, we have to find ways to bounce back, once we face them again,” said Alinsunurin in Filipino.
Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Sisi Rondina. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“We have to improve and focus on all of our skills. [Creamline] is the only team we haven’t beat yet. But our confidence every time we go up against them is getting higher.”
READ: PVL: Creamline, Choco Mucho grateful for overwhelming support from fans
Rondina and Alinsunurin believe that Choco Mucho will earn its time and opportunity to beat Creamline, which swept them in thePVL All-Filipino Finals last December.
“We’ll wait for the time to win a game [against Creamline] soon. Everything happens for a reason,” the reigning PVL MVP said.
Choco Mucho is tied with Creamline on top with identical 8-2 records ahead of Petro Gazz, Chery Tiggo, and PLDT, who are tied at 7-2.
Alinsunurin urged his wards to take care of business against the also-ran Farm Fresh.
“We have to win our next game because we haven’t secured a spot in the semis yet with the tight standings. We have to maximize our next game and see the things we need to adjust versus Farm Fresh,” he said.
The former University of Santo Tomas star will have the same mindset and confidence heading to their final elimination game.
“I’m still confident that we’ll be able to reach the Final Four. Although we got a bad result in this game, we will learn from our lapses against the top team before the semis,” Rondina said.