Choco Mucho’s Mean Mendrez in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Mean Mendrez shone brightly in her first start, playing her best game yet for Choco Mucho, which kept its quarterfinal hopes alive in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday.
Mendrez poured in a team-high 18 points including the clutch hits in the fifth set to halt Choco Mucho’s two-game skid with a nail-biting 16-25, 11-25, 25-23, 25-19, 15-12 win over Chery Tiggo at Philsports Arena.
For the outside spiker, she’s just making the most of the opportunity while trying to help her team squeak its way into the quarterfinals despite losing four of its five matches in the first round.
READ: PVL: Choco Mucho stays alive, outlasts Chery Tiggo
The Flying Titans seek to enter the quartefinals by winning their remaining games. #PVL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/3qbcKbMFfz
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 13, 2024
“I’m always ready. Anyone from our team needs to step up once given an opportunity,” said Mendrez in Filipino. “It’s a huge boost for me to be trusted by our coaches, who have been preparing us well in training. I also felt the support of my teammates, making me feel that they always have my back.”
With Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag’s return still uncertain even after Alas Pilipinas’ SEA VLeague stint, Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin is grateful for his other players filling in the void including Mendrez, who had 14 kills, two aces, and two blocks.
“Mean is ready to deliver for us anytime. She was just struggling at first because of her body condition. But now, she’s been stepping up. And I’ve been seeing it since practice. She’s always all out. That’s why I thought that it’s time to field her,” said Alinsunurin in Filipino, referring to Mendrez’s nagging knee injury since signing with Choco Mucho early this year.
READ: PVL: Choco Mucho posts first win at expense of ZUS Coffee
Mendrez also showed composure for the Flying Titans, who blew a two-set lead but got their act together in the fifth set.
“We lost composure and lacked receive. It was hard for us to counter [Chery Tiggo],” said the University of the East product. “Our mindset was to recover and forget the last two sets. I told my teammates that we should recover and don’t let our emotions get the better of us.”
Choco Mucho improved to a 2-4 record, gaining the eighth spot. The Flying Titans seek to reach the quarterfinals in their pivotal last two games against sister Creamline on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena and against PLDT on Thursday next week at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.