Mars Alba and Deanna Wong came in clutch for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans as they knock out the PLDT High Speed Hitters after another five-set thriller in Game 2 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.
When the going gets tough, Mars Alba delivered.
With Choco Mucho and PLDT locked in a 13-all battle in the deciding set of Game 2, the Flying Titans turned to their usual closer, Sisi Rondina.
However, her attack was met with a strong PLDT block, forcing setter Deanna Wong to make a quick decision.
Instead of going back to Rondina, Wong set up Alba—her fellow setter-turned-opposite hitter—for a crucial cut shot that brought Choco Mucho to match point.
Moments later, Rondina sealed the deal with a cross-court kill, securing the Flying Titans' hard-fought five-set win, 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13, punching their ticket to the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals.
Alba, who was hailed the Player of the Game with 22 excellent sets and seven points, credited her growing confidence and chemistry with Wong for the clutch moment. Wong was fielded in 10-9 in the fifth frame, coming in for Royse Tubino.
“For me, siguro may kumpiyansa lang given na ginagawa ko sa ensayo kasi lately nakikisali na ako sa free spiking,” Alba shared during the post-game press conference. “Na-practice naman kaya kumpiyansa din ako may connection kami ni Ate Deanna.”
Alba admitted she was initially just a backup option in that sequence but was ready to contribute when Wong called her number.
“Iniisip ko nung time na ‘yun, backup lang talaga ako. Given na nasa harap talaga si Ate [Sisi], talagang pumorsiyento lang ako,” Alba said.
“Hindi ko in-expect pero ready ako. Hindi ko in-expect na binigay sa akin ni Ate Deanna ‘yung bola pero ‘yun, sabi ko angat lang, ako bahala, magco-contribute ako kung anong pwede,” she added.
[ALSO READ: Alba embraces showdown against former F2 teammates as Choco Mucho outlasts PLDT in PVL QF]
For head coach Dante Alinsunurin, fielding Wong and Alba at the same time was a calculated risk.
With limited options at the opposite hitter due to Dindin Santiago-Manabat going down with a knee injury, Alinsunurin saw the advantage of having a setter like Alba step up in crucial moments.
“Talagang naisip ko na kailangan ko ng pamalit, ng substitute para makatulong in case na sila Mars ay nasa harapan,” Alinsunurin explained. “Nakita ko na mas advantage kung setter talaga kasi position niya talaga. Kasi wala talaga kaming tao na pwedeng pumalit sa opposite kaya sabi ko mas gamay ng setter ko ‘yung galaw sa loob.
“Hindi man siya maka-opensa pero depensa makukuha niya. Sobrang thankful lang kasi naging maganda yung resulta and sa sistema naging maganda laro namin,” he added.
For now, it’s rest and recovery for Alba and the rest of the Flying Titans after their two grueling five-setters against the High Speed Hitters.
The semifinals are expected to begin on March 29.