Choco Mucho Flying Titans celebrate the PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals win over Petro Gazz that sealed a Finals return. They will face Creamline in the best-of-three Finals. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Choco Mucho has a shot at taking home the PVL All-Filipino Conference championship, and the Flying Titans’ bid will have to go through Creamline once again.
But the upcoming best-of-three series between the sister teams might be a bit different this time out.
According to coach Dante Alinsunurin, the Flying Titans have an edge to work with in their upcoming rematch with the Cool Smashers.
READ: PVL: Frustrating losing skid to Creamline finally ends for Choco Mucho
“It’s really that hunger. Choco Mucho is really hungry to get to the Finals and the championship because it’s been so long-awaited by the players and even us coaches,” said Alinsunurin in Filipino after their victory over Petro Gazz at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
“We feel good because our practice and training are paying off. We’re here in the Finals now. Maybe tomorrow, we work again on what we can train on. We’re ready.”
That same “hunger” showed up big in the Flying Titans’ final semifinal match with Petro Gazz to advance to the dance with Creamline.
After losing the first set by two, 23-25, Alinsunurin and Choco Mucho shifted to another gear and won three straight sets to send the Angels packing.
READ: PVL: Creamline dominates Choco Mucho in highly-anticipated clash
That same win also completed a Choco Mucho sweep of the semifinal round, which granted them a seat in the PVL Finals.
The Flying Titans also defeated soon-to-be Finals partner Creamline in that same semifinal phase for the first time in franchise history.
If anyone else knows the “hunger” more than anybody, it’s Maddie Madayag who has been with the Flying Titans for the longest time.
“We’re really hungry. We’re very hungry to get that gold and I think that’s also felt by the whole team that we want to achieve it [championship]. We want to inspire them and for us to rise altogether in the Finals,” said Madayag in Filipino after dropping 11 points.