Choco Mucho Flying Titans during Game 2 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference Finals.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Maddie Madayag felt a tinge of regret after falling short in extending the series but she remained proud of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ second straight silver in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference despite the injuries.
Madayag shed tears after Choco Mucho blew a 2-1 lead as Creamline completed a series sweep in five sets, 20-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11, in Game 2 before an ecstatic 23,162 crowd on Sunday evening at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Naiyak lang din ako kasi masakit na masakit talaga. Kung na-extend pa namin yung series, lalaban talaga kami at lalaban para makuha yung championship,” said Madayag, who finished with 10 points.
“Ang sarap sa feeling siguro na nanalo kami kahit na wala yung ibang teammates namin, parang redemption din for them in a way,” she added.
READ: Creamline’s depth leads to another PVL crown at expense of Choco Mucho
Although it was a heartbreaking conclusion in the finals same as their Game 2 defeat to Creamline in December, the Choco Mucho captain encouraged her teammates that they have nothing to be ashamed of.
“Sabi ko nung nag-huddle kami, okay lang. Kailangan hindi tayo pwedeng malungkot kasi blessing pa rin na dinala tayo ni Lord dito kahit na ang dami nang nangyari sa team namin. Ginuide pa rin kami ni Lord para umabot kami sa finals. Yung goal talaga naman, sobrang pinaghugutan namin yung teammates namin na wala, pero kinapos kami,” she said.
“Kailangan nating tanggapin kasi ito yung binigay ni Lord sa atin. Hindi man tayo umabot sa goal na gusto natin. I believe that in God’s perfect time makukuha rin namin.”
Choco Mucho lost two players this season after Aduke Ogunsanya suffered another ACL injury early in the season, while Kat Tolentino missed the latter part of the conference due to an auditory condition. The Flying Titans also missed the services of Des Cheng, who is still recovering from the ACL injury she sustained last year.
READ: PVL: Madayag embraces challenge as returning Choco Mucho captain
The Flying Titans still finished the elimination round with a 9-2 record and swept the semifinal round to return to the finals for the second straight time.
“I’m still very proud of the team, lalo na ang daming nabawasan sa amin no. So sabi nga nung coaches, lalo na nung nawala si Kat, parang they didn’t expect us to sweep the semis kasi we’re down three people already. I always say basta may nahuhulog na teammate, palaging may nagse-step up para bawian,” said Madayag. “I’m very happy with the run kahit na kinapos na naman kami. Sobrang proud pa rin ako sa naging performance ng team.”
Madayag can’t wait to have their injured teammates back for the latter part of the season.
“I’m very excited lalo na pag pabalik na yung teammates namin. Hopefully, kaya na nila, by the end of this year. I’m not sure about the timeline. Sobrang excited lang din ako for them to return,” she said.
The conference Best Middle Blocker believes the best is yet to come for the Flying Titans, who turned into a title contender in the past two conferences from being heartbreak kids in the past years.
“Malayo, sobrang layo na. Ngayon may dalawang finals experience na kami na madadala sa team. Sobrang layo ng maturity na inabot namin, lalo na from 2021, nag-give up talaga kami. Mga bata yung nandun. Wala masyadong veterans, except si Ate Den. Sobrang layo ng naabot ng team and I’m just proud of where we are right now,” Madayag said.