Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin expected nothing less from Cherry Nunag, who proved instrumental in the Flying Titans’ straight-set win over the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin believes the Flying Titans have a distinctive edge over the competition when their middle blockers make proactive plays on offense.
This was evident on Tuesday night when Cherry Nunag made her presence felt in Choco Mucho’s dominant sweep of the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The 5-foot-11 stalwart anchored the offense above the net with seven attacks and two blocks, while making it rain from the service line with three aces on her way to a 12-point showing.
“Kung ano ‘yung tinatrabaho niya tuwing practice namin, talagang lumabas. ‘Yun ‘yung inaantay namin sa kanya na ginagawa sa loob ng court like ‘yung service niya,” Alinsunurin said of Nunag.
“Doon kami minsan nagkaka-edge sa mga laro kapag ‘yung mga middle namin pumapasok ‘yung serve nila and then nakakadepensa,” he continued.
Nunag had a strong start to the conference with back-to-back double-digit scoring outings before struggling on offense in the succeeding four matches.
Driven to break out of the slump, the 30-year-old DLSU-Dasmariñas product stayed committed to Choco Mucho’s system and buckled down to work, leading up to her fine performance versus Galeries Tower.
“Kaya sobrang thankful ako sa kanya kasi talagang nacha-challenge siya sa ginagawa niya. Ang importante lang sa akin e lagi siyang sumusunod sa gusto namin gawin sa loob ng court. Kung ano man pwede naming adjustment nandun lagi siya. Kaya sobra akong thankful sa performance niya,” Alinsunurin said.
Nunag and the rest of the Flying Titans have now claimed a share of the lead atop the standings with a 6-1 record, tied with the Creamline Cool Smashers and the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
As the season moves along and the Final Four race intensifies, Choco Mucho will next face Capital1 on April 6, Saturday, in hopes of a strong finish in the preliminaries.
“Every game and training, ang pinaghahandaan talaga namin is kung paano kami makakarating sa dulo. Ito ‘yung kailangan namin pagbutihan pa para pagdating ng dulo, alam mo ‘yun, talagang mas makukumpiyansa kami everytime na may playoffs na,” Alinsunurin stated.