FILE–Choco Mucho’s Kat Tolentino. – MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho braces for the worst as Kat Tolentino’s return in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference remains uncertain due to an auditory condition.
Tolentino missed her fifth straight game as Choco Mucho fell to sister team Creamline anew, 25-17, 25-22, 25-19, on Thursday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We don’t know when she will be able to return. But we’re bracing ourselves that she might not come back to this conference. What’s important for us right now is her well-being,” said Alinsunurin in Filipino after the loss.
READ: PVL: Kat Tolentino aptly playing off-the-bench role for Choco Mucho
“I think it’s also a factor that Kat wasn’t able to play. But even before this happened, Royse Tubino has been stepping up to contribute,” he said of Tubino, who was limited to seven points.
Rondina also said that with Tolentino’s absence, they have to work hard while waiting for her full recovery.
“Kat is a big loss to our team. We will continue to wait for her. As of now, we have to fill in her spot and work double time to get good results,” she said in Filipino.
Choco Mucho, tied with Creamline on top with identical 8-2 records, tries to bounce back and secure a semifinal berth against the also-ran Farm Fresh on Tuesday next week.