Each team will play at least 11 games.
Trust the process. It's cliche at this point, but it's something that players need to hear again and again to reassure them that all of their wait is worth it.
Coach Dante Alinsunurin preached it to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans for the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference. It's slowly bearing fruit as they got the sweep against the Farm Fresh Foxies, 25-18, 25-13, 25-17 on Thursday.
Sisi Rondina was the main cannon for the Flying Titans with her 21 points, but fans cheered when mainstays Kat Tolentino and Bea de Leon entered the fray in the last set for four points each.
"Patience lang," Alinsunurin told reporters after the match regarding Tolentino's appearance. "Sabi ko naman bago 'tong laro na 'to, ready na siya sa susunod na game namin. Ang importante, masimulan niya ngayon."
"I think I was a bit excited. I had a lot of adrenaline going into the game," Tolentino admitted.
During their conference opener, she was subbed in the first set, but was taken out before the eventual sweep by the Creamline Cool Smashers.
"I guess I just have to be patient, understand we all have our roles," she added.
The important thing for Alinsunurin is to pace his players. Unlike in their VTV Cup campaign in Vietnam, where they played five matches in five days straight, the preliminaries of the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference is a lengthy one. The Flying Titans will play nine more teams until December 5.
"Importante lahat din magamit, pero kailangan may time," he explained. "'Di lang basta magbababa ng player. Kailangan i-prepare kung sino makakalaban, kung kakayanin o hinde."
It's going to be interesting to witness how the champion coach will shuffle his players when Choco Mucho takes on the Cignal HD Spikers on Thursday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The HD Spikers won their first assignment against the PLDT High Speed Hitters, but their competitors have already honed in that they don't have stalwart Rachel Anne Daquis, who was invited to a US coaching camp, as well as Jovelyn Gonzaga and Gelai Nunag.
(With reports from Jamie Velasco, One Sports Digital)
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