Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Royse Tubino in the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Nearing her first-ever PVL finals, Royse Tubino continues to rise to the occasion for Choco Mucho in the semifinal round of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.
Tubino, once again, backstopped reigning MVP Sisi Rondina, firing 17 points in Choco Mucho’s dominant 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 win over Chery Tiggo for a 2-0 record in the semis to inch a win closer to the team’s second straight trip to the PVL Finals.
“I’m happy because the coaching staff and my teammates are always there to support and guide me,” said Tubino in Filipino on Thursday evening after another triumphant game in front of 5,921 fans at Philsports Arena.
READ: PVL: Mars Alba, Royse Tubino are Choco Mucho’s difference-makers
The Army sergeant has yet to reach the PVL Finals since she joining the league with the Lady Troopers in 2019, and reaching the biggest stage is the 31-year-old opposite spiker’s ultimate goal.
“Even though, I am already a veteran, I learn a lot from them and I still need our coaches’ guidance. That’s always been my mindset since joining this team,” Tubino said.
“We’re all tired but we keep on pushing ourselves to give our best for us to finish the game with a win,” she added.
READ: PVL: Choco Mucho boosts Finals bid with sweep of Chery Tiggo
Stepping up in the absence of Kat Tolentino, who is still recovering from an auditory condition, Tubino was instrumental in Choco Mucho’s amazing come-from-behind win over Creamline — Choco Mucho’s first victory against its sister team in five years, where she delivered 20 points and 12 digs.
“We deserved our wins from Creamline and Chery Tiggo because we worked hard for it. Everyone gave their all-out effort, especially our coaches,” she said.
On the cusp of the Finals, Tubino seeks to complete Choco Mucho’s semis sweep when it battles Petro Gazz on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We have to be more aggressive because we started slow in the past two games. We can’t afford to start like that against Petro Gazz. We have two days to train,” Tubino said.