Choco Mucho captain Maddie Madayag credited the Flying Titans’ perseverance after defeating the Creamline Cool Smashers for the first time ever in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
Nearly five years and 13 head-to-head clashes later, Choco Mucho finally cracked the Creamline code on Tuesday night.
The Flying Titans pulled off a reverse sweep to prevail over the Cool Smashers, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16, in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
The hard-fought victory laid to rest Choco Mucho’s 12-game losing streak to the defending champions dating back to their inception in 2019.
Moments after such a breakthrough, Maddie Madayag, one of the last two original members of the inaugural team alongside Kat Tolentino, couldn't help but let out a huge sigh of relief.
“Finally lang, ‘yun lang talaga kasi ilang conferences na namin silang pinaghandaan pero parang short kami pa lagi. But finally, grabe yung pinagdaanan namin. Although pangit yung first two sets namin, at least nakabawi kami and ‘yun nga sabi ni Coach Dante [Alinsunurin], teamwork lang talaga and very grateful lang kami kay Lord,” said Madayag.
“‘Thank you Lord’ kami nang ‘Thank you Lord’ nila Mars [Alba] kasi dami ng nagca-cramps, walang nai-injure samin, pero hindi niya kami pinabayaan and lumaban din naman talaga kami.”
Madayag, who poured eight points behind seven blocks, said that Choco Mucho’s experience from their Finals encounter with Creamline in the 2023 All-Filipino Conference provided invaluable lessons that helped pave the way for their victory.
The Flying Titans captain also credited the collective effort of the team, especially their offseason additions in Mars Alba and Royse Tubino.
“Siguro nakatulong din yung naging experience namin sa finals kalaban sila. Medyo nababasa na naman sila,” Madayag shared.
“And of course yung additions namin, veterans, and setters grabe yung diskarte ni Mars kanina. Kung kaya niyang mahatak ko yung mga middles, pinapamukha niya talagang ibibigay niya sakin pero ibabato niya kila ate Royse. Credit din talaga sa mga teammates namin kasi hindi talaga sumuko and veteran namin sobrang galing talaga [ni] sergeant.”
With the historic win, Choco Mucho has now taken a step closer to a return trip to the Finals. And Madayag hopes the team can sustain its fine form heading into their matches against Chery Tiggo and Petro Gazz in the coming days.
“Hopefully sana masustain namin yung maturity and confidence namin as a team,” Madayag said.