Depleted local core gives Flying Titans breakthrough boost

Choco Mucho import Zoi Faki watches on the bench during a game against ZUS Coffee in the PVL Reinforced Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Choco Mucho came into the PVL Reinforced Conference as one of the feared squads in the fold, having played in the title series of the last two tournaments.

A 0-2 start is definitely a letdown for its legion of fans, but instead of panic, Choco Mucho’s sense of urgency came into fore with its local crew stepping up in a 14-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 rout of ZUS Coffee on Saturday night.

“We’re not looking for those who are not here. It’s just that somebody needs to step up, which is what happened,” captain Maddie Madayag said after Choco Mucho finally broke through for its first win in two months. “Everyone wants to step up to get the win.”

With Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag fulfilling national team duties and import Zoi Faki seeing limited minutes, the Flying Titans relied on old hands like Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Madayag and Royse Tubino for the firepower.

Faki, their Greek reinforcement, is averaging a meager 10.3 points in their first three games that includes defeats to Cignal and Akari. And coach Dante Alinsunurin has no plans of jacking up her minutes until she adapts to the team’s system.

“We are not able to do what we want inside with our attention being put more on [Faki] … but Zoi will come back because she is pushing herself every practice. We will still need her in the crucial games,” Alinsunurin said.

“I believe in the people I used in the second set [against ZUS Coffee] because they are my core, although we have Dindin, who is new. But I already know her and she does what I tell her and even gives more,” he added.

‘We should pull her up’

While Choco Mucho is having a longer adjustment period with its import, Cignal and Akari are leading Pool B with 3-0 records because of strong performances by their respective reinforcements.

“Of course, it’s a burden, but we really need to step up to get wins,” said Tubino. “It won’t be easy and the locals should not depend on the imports alone. We need to guide her (Faki) … we should pull her up instead of her alone pulling us up.”

The Flying Titans know they can’t crack under the pressure even with different faces bannering them now. Alinsunurin has also admitted not being prepared for the absence of some of his main cogs. “What’s important is we help each other so that our team plays better. We are having difficulties with communication inside the court and in our adjustments because we only had weeks training with the new people, so we are still feeling each other out,” Alinsunurin said. INQ