Sisi Rondina, Cherry Nunag, and Des Cheng will return to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans squad for the 2024–25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Choco Mucho Flying Titans. Photo from Fanpage: Choco Mucho Flying Titans
2024 Reinforced Conference record: 2-6 (9th place)
Key additions/returns: Sisi Rondina, Cherry Nunag, Des Cheng
Key Departure: Maddie Madayag
Coach: Dante Alinsunurin
One word to describe Choco Mucho’s upcoming campaign: Redemption.
As the Choco Mucho Flying Titans start the 2018 PVL season with a fresh perspective and enthusiasm, that will be their obvious objective.
The Flying Titans will have a healthy roster for the first time in a long time, and Kat Tolentino and Des Cheng are anticipated to play a significant role in the team’s hopes of winning a championship.
The loss of Maddie Madayag to Japan will undoubtedly hurt the Flying Titans, but it should also make room for Cherry Nunag, Maika Ortiz, and rookie Lorraine Pecaña, among other gifted middle blockers on the team.
“Dahil sa pagkawala ni Maddie, medyo malaki ‘yung fi-fill up namin na scoring ni Maddie, siyempre ‘yung presence niya. Kahit papaano bago naman mag-simula itong season makapag-catch up ‘yung mga middle namin,” Alinsunurin said.
“Siguro kailangan namin pagtulong-tulungan talaga na ‘yung mga middle namin is maging effective this upcoming conference,” he added.
Biggest X-Factor for Choco Mucho this season
Given the Flying Titans’ record in the most recent Reinforced Conference, it should not be shocking that Sisi Rondina is their x-factor.
Without the attacking ability of the star spiker, Choco Mucho suffered, but now that Rondina is back on the team, it should be easy to see the team make it to the Finals again.
“Siguro talagang ‘yun ang naging problema talaga namin is ‘yung offense. Sabi ko nga, nandun lang ‘yung depensa namin, ‘yung blockings namin, at ‘yung ginagawa namin sa loob ng court pero sa bandang huli ‘yung opensa talaga ‘yung nagkukulang samin,” Alinsunurin explained.
“Sana pagdating ni Sisi and ni Cherry mas mapunan ulit ‘yung mga ginagawa before nung nakapasok kami ng Finals and mag-improve pa kami.”
The best possible outcome
Other teams are in peril when Choco Mucho is healthy.
The club can win the upcoming conference as long as Rondina keeps doing Rondina things and Tolentino and Cheng contribute significantly.
The Flying Titans’ primary objective will be to get to the semifinals, but if they start the new season in a groove, they should gradually consider winning a title.
The worst-case situation
The Flying Titans will undoubtedly struggle if they can’t settle into a rhythm even with Rondina back in the lineup, and Choco Much’s injury problems will further cripple him.
Choco Mucho will have a dismal start to the 2024–25 PVL season with a middle-of-the-pack result.
Then, concerns about whether the team should begin rebuilding will begin to surface.
Bold prediction
Choco Mucho makes it back to the finals, and Dindin Santiago-Manabat is the ideal partner for Sisi Rondina.
The 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference will begin on November 9.
