First time for Choco Mucho and Creamline in the finals.
It was opposite spiker Kat Tolentino who brought the Choco Mucho Flying Titans to match point against the Cignal HD Spikers on Tuesday, 24-22, in their do-or-die game in the semifinals in the PVL Second All-Filipino Conference.
One more point and the Ube Girls would reach their first-ever PVL finals.
But Tolentino's Ateneo Blue Eagles junior Vanie Gandler didn't want it to end just yet. She got a spike in to keep Cignal alive, 24-23.
A long rally ensued and Gandler had a chance to make the kill. It was called out and the Flying Titans were ready to celebrate.
But Cignal coach Shaq delos Santos challenged the call.
"Siguro kinabahan ako, ang tingin ko parang inside," Sisi Rondina admitted during the postgame press conference. "Akala ko icha-challenge na in-out. Dun talaga ako kinabahan. Tsaka block touch kasi narinig ko, wala raw."
"'Wag lang in-out kasi may chance pa ('yung Cignal)."
It was a block touch challenge, which officials deemed unsuccessful.
The Flying Titans were in the finals.
They also avenged their loss to the HD Spikers in the battle for third in the 2022 PVL Open Conference.
"'Yung pagkakita ko, okay, panalo na, wala na," Rondina recalled.
She finished with 21 points, all from attacks, along with 19 excellent receptions. Cherry Bomb immediately celebrated by jumping up and down with Aduke Ogunsanya.
"Masaya ako. Ang sarap sa feeling na maka-feel ulit ng ganito," Rondina shared.
She last reached an indoor volleyball finals with the Petron Blaze Spikers during the 2017 Philippine Super Liga Grand Prix, where they settled for second.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho's finals face-off against the undefeated Creamline Cool Smashers isn't exactly new for Tolentino.
Along with Deanna Wong, Maddie Madayag, and Bea de Leon, she faced Creamline in the 2018 PVL Open Conference finals as part of the Ateneo-Motolite Lady Eagles. They were swept in the two-game series.
"I think that's a different team. Like Choco Mucho is Choco Mucho and Ateneo is Ateneo," Tolentino said when asked about the experience.
"It's not about what school you came from. I think we all came together and humbled ourselves. We all have backgrounds, we all have accomplishments. If we put aside our individuality and really work together, it's gonna be a different story with Ateneo and Choco Mucho."
ALSO READ: Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina reveals surprising fact about self, tips hat to Deanna Wong
Game 1 of the best-of-three finals between the Flying Titans and the Cool Smashers starts this Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
It will be aired live at 6 p.m. on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.
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