PVL: Choco Mucho takes solo lead, routs also-ran Strong Group

Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Royse Tubino in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. — PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Choco Mucho continued its stranglehold of the top spot in the PVL All-Filipino Conference after trouncing eliminated Strong Group, 25-17, 25-15, 25-15, on Saturday at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Veteran Royse Tubino scattered 17 points from 15 attacks and two blocks to help the Flying Titans roll to a fourth straight win and improve to an 8-1 record.

“Naging tuloy-tuloy lang talaga yung mindset namin kung sino man makalaban namin, paghahandaan namin [at] yung resulta na-panalo namin yung game ngayon,” coach Dante Alinsunurin said.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024

“Kung sino man ipasok ko nabigyan ng pagkakataon maka-score and hopefully magtuloy-tuloy pagdating sa ibang game namin,” he added.

Choco Mucho clinched the solo lead in the standings in front of PLDT with 7-1 and Petro Gazz, Creamline and Chery Tiggo who are all tied at 6-2.

“Naka-mindset lang ako na magta-trabaho lang ako ng maayos tsaka sa trust ni binibigay ni coach Dante, ibibigay ko yung best ko,” said Tubino, who continues to fill in the void left by starting opposite hitter Kat Tolentino.

Tolentino is still recuperating from an auditory condition according to the statement released by Choco Mucho.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho slips past Petro Gazz in tough five-setter

There was still no let up from Sisi Rondina who also finished with 17 points, 14 coming from attacks to outclass the eliminated Athletics who dropped their ninth straight match.

“Nauna yung medyo mabibigat namin na kalaban, ngayon medyo nandito kami sa mga kalaban namin na nasa baba ng standing [pero] kailangan pa rin namin trabahuhin every game,” Alinsunurin said.

“Kasi importante sa ganitong liga yung bawat panalo, kung ano man maging resulta, ang importante samin is yung nag-gain namin every game,” he added.

There was no chance that Choco Mucho was going to let the win slip out of their hands and was as relentless in the final set as it was in the first two frames.

The Flying Titans quickly manufactured a 17-11 lead in the decider as Regine Arocha, Tubino and Isa Molde peppered Strong Group’s side with their attacks. Choco Mucho had an overwhelming 48-29 lead in that department.

Already up by nine points, Maddie Madayag ended the match with a commanding block on Dolly Versoza, who was the lone bright spot for the Athletics after delivering 12 points.

Choco Mucho will finally have its shot to get back at its tormentor in the last All-Filipino Conference Finals as it battles Creamline next on Thursday at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.