MANILA, Philippines, March 21 ------ Choco Mucho barged into the semifinals of the PVL All-Filipino Conference after booting out PLDT by way of a 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13 win at the PhilSports Arena. Setter Mars Alba delivered an unexpected hit at a crucial moment and super scorer Sisi Rondina sealed the deal as they powered the Flying Titans to a sweep of the best-of-three quarterfinals.
Alba finished with 22 excellent sets on top of 7 points, including a surprising cut shot off a Deanna Wong feed that broke a 13-13 deadlock in the fifth set and put Choco Mucho at match point. Rondina then hammered a kill past the High Speed Hitters’ Majoy Baron and Kim Dy to secure the win that made the Flying Titans who finished the preliminary round at fifth the first team to reach the final four. “I’m so happy because all of us were worn out earlier. We just did not stop. I’m really proud of our team because everyone can adjust,” said Rondina in Filipino. “No matter their position, as long as they can contribute, they will work on it.” she added.
Royse Tubino added 15 points built on 13 attacks and 2 blocks for Choco Mucho, which notched its ninth straight win. Isa Molde chimed in 8 points, while Maika Ortiz and Cherry Nunag tossed in 7 points each in the victory that took 2 hours and 15 minutes to finish. “They did not surrender. They really want to return to the semifinals,” said Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin, whose side is coming off a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Reinforced Conference.
Choco Mucho survived a 34-point explosion by PLDT star Savi Davison, who scored back-to-back hits that tied the deciding set at 13-13 before floor coverage errors doomed the High Speed Hitters. Baron and Erika Santos tallied 17 and 13 points, respectively, in the loss. Joining the Flying Titans in the final four is Akari, which pulled off a 19-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 15-12 squeaker over Galeries Tower to close out their best-of-three clash in two games.
Eli Soyud produced 20 points to pace the Chargers, who reached the semifinals for the second straight conference as they escaped another five-setter just like in Game 1. Akari displayed grit as it overcame the exit of Fifi Sharma, who twisted her left ankle in the opening frame, and a 1-2 set deficit. Faith Nisperos fired 15 points in the victory, including the win-clinching off-the-block hit, and Grethcel Soltones put up 13 points. Jewel Encarnacion had 21 points for the Highrisers.
Source: rappler.com
Comentarios