Alas Pilipinas members Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag are set to miss Choco Mucho's campaign in the upcoming 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference.
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans face a daunting challenge in their title-contention bid, with two of their key members set to miss a significant chunk of action in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference, which opens in July.
Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin confirmed that prolific scorer Sisi Rondina and middle blocker Cherry Nunag will focus on their national duties with Alas Pilipinas.
Both Rondina and Nunag will continue to don the tricolors of the country in the 2024 FIVB Women's Challenger Cup in July and the 2024 Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League in August.
“Talagang sure na 'yun [na hindi muna sila maglalaro sa PVL, kasi ang [mga competition] nila is ngayong July at August sa SEA V.League. Kaya siguradong mawawala sila,” Alinsunurin shared..
Still, the seasoned tactician hopes to regain his players in the latter stages of the import-laden tournament or in the Invitational Conference come September.
“Nag-rerequest kami siguro sa kanila na kung pwede sana, kapag tapos na 'yung mga liga nila, pwede na ulit sila maglaro sa'min,” Alinsunurin said.
“Umaasa na lang kami na matapos agad 'yung SEA V.League and anytime na makaabot man kami sa Invitationals ay makalaro sila.”
Aside from the eventual return of Rondina and Nunag, Alinsunurin is also eager to welcome back two of Choco Mucho’s injured players in the foreseeable future.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Dante Alinsunurin bares recovery progress of Des Cheng, Kat Tolentino ahead of Reinforced Conference]
Des Cheng, sidelined since October 2023 with a torn ACL in her right knee, has begun training again. While her recovery is still ongoing, she's already at a significant point of the way back.
Meanwhile, Kat Tolentino is making strong progress in her recovery from an auditory condition. Sidelined during the crucial stages of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, she's now halfway back to full strength.
The last Reinforced Conference was held in 2022, when Choco Mucho fell to seventh place. The Petro Gazz Angels took home the title.