The Choco Mucho Flying Titans. Photo from PVL Media Bureau

MANILA (UPDATED) – Choco Mucho captured their first-ever win against Creamline in comeback fashion — and maybe in the best time possible. 

The Flying Titans finally nabbed one against their sister team after 13 tries, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16, in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League semifinals on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

The breakthrough win was a sigh of relief for the Flying Titans, said skipper Maddie Madayag.

"Finally lang, 'yun lang talaga kasi ilang conferences na namin silang pinaghandaan pero parang short kami pa lagi. But finally, grabe yung pinagdaanan namin," Madayag said during the postgame press conference. 

Reigning All-Filipino MVP Sisi Rondina exploded for 23 points on 21 attacks, one block and an ace, while Royse Tubino who played multiple positions as open and opposite in the game added 20 markers for Choco Mucho's offense.

"Kine-credit ko yung win namin kay coach Dante [Alinsunurin] sa pag-adjust niya kasi pagka-third set ginawa akong open tsaka sa mga teammates ko na walang sawang pag-intindi and mahabang pasensya talaga kaya nakuha namin itong panalo sa Creamline," said Tubino. 

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READ: PVL: Creamline reasserts mastery of Choco Mucho

Even without star player Tots Carlos, Creamline was poised to take the match after cruising to a 2-0 set lead, but the Flying Titans overcame adversity and leveled the ballgame after Kyle Negrito missed a set to Michele Gumabao in Set 4, 25-20.

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"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," Tubino added.

In the decider, Rondina gave the Flying Titans a crucial 11-8 lead off a down-the-line hit, but Jema Galanza lit Creamline's offense and scored three of Creamline's four points to resuscitate their bid and tied at 12-12.

Tubino scored one but Alyssa Valdez showed her vintage form and fired consecutive kills to level at 14-all. 

Rondina suffered an attack error which gave Creamline match point, 15-14, but that wasn't the end yet as Tubino unleashed a spike to tie the battle. 

Valdez was blocked late in the set, 16-15, but made up for it to save a match point for Creamline.

And then Choco Mucho turned to its best player on the taraflex, Rondina, to end the two-hour, 47-minute encounter with back-to-back hits — one with a sharp spike and an off-the-block kill.

"All credits talaga sa teammates ko na pinagtrabahuhan talaga namin na maipanalo 'yung game na 'yun. Sabi nga ni Maddie, finally, naka-isa rin sa Creamline," Rondina said. 

Galanza had a triple-double of 23 points, 18 excellent receptions, and 13 excellent digs, while Valdez delivered 21 for the Creamline scoring.

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