Choco Mucho put up a sturdy wall at the net with 22 blocks in their five-set win over Galeries Tower in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
It was a block party for Choco Mucho in their five-set victory over Galeries Tower in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Thursday, Nov. 14.
The Flying Titans accumulated 22 denials in the match, led by Kat Tolentino and Lorraine Pecaña, who each had seven.
In the fifth set alone, Choco Mucho had five blocks led by both Tolentino and Pecaña.
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This noteworthy statistic satisfied coach Dante Alinsunurin, especially as the Flying Titans' particularly worked on this skill during the offseason.
“Siyempre, sobrang happy pa rin ako kasi alam ko na kung ano ‘yung nagiging gusto namin pagdating sa blocking talaga, nakukuha namin,” Alinsunurin said during the post-game press conference.
Lorraine Pecaña displays her skill at the net in Choco Mucho's battle against Galeries Tower in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday, Nov. 14. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
“Sabi ko nga sa players ko, ang sasandalan talaga namin ay 'yung blocking namin. Kung ano pa 'yung kailangan naming i-improve, pasensiya lang. At sobrang thankful akong nagtiwala sa'kin 'yung mga players ko sa sistema ko sa blocks,” he added.
While blocking was a strong point for Choco Mucho, Alinsunurin is hoping that his charges could work on some of their weaknesses during the match to continue their winning ways in the All-Filipino Conference.
“Siguro kitang-kita naman talaga, 'yung first ball namin. Every year naman, 'yun talaga 'yung isa sa mga nagiging problema namin, 'yung first ball. Kasi lahat ng gusto naming mangyari sa loob ng court, hindi doon nag-sa-start talaga,” Alinsunurin explained.
“Every time na nag-eensayo kami, uumpisahan namin ulit 'to para mas mag-improve pa. Maghahanap siguro ako ng mas magiging effective sa mga ganitong sitwasyon,” he added.
Tolentino led the way for the Flying Titans with 27 points, while Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag added 19 and 14 markers, respectively.
Jewel Encarnacion paced the Highrisers with 18 points in the loss. Ysa Jimenez and France Ronquillo put up 13 and 11 points, while Julia Coronel chipped in 10.
Choco Mucho will go for win No. 2 next Thursday, Nov. 21, against Capital1 in the same venue