Video after the match: Coach Dante Alinsunurin reveals reason for benching import Zoi Faki after set 1

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Choco Mucho averts disaster, scores first PVL win over ZUS Coffee

The Flying Titans are on the board!

Royse Tubino and Choco Mucho finally scored their first win

CHOCO Mucho bucked its first set struggles and struck back at the right time against ZUS Coffee to take a hard-earned four-setter, 14-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18, in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Saturday at the Philsports Arena.

Royse Tubino made sure the Flying Titans won’t crash to its worst-ever start to a PVL conference by firing 21 points on 50 percent efficiency despite opting to bench their Greek import Zoi Faki for the most part.

In a battle of winless sides prior to the match, it was a ZUS Coffee blowout that unfolded in the first set but unfortunately for the Thunderbelles, they couldn’t capitalize on their brilliant start as the Flying Titans came storming back in a big way.

“Trabaho lang talaga kasi ‘yun naman lagi sinasabi ni coach (Dante Alinsunurin) na pagtrabahuhan mo lang ‘yung points mo at saka ‘yung service-receive mo, trabaho lang talaga. Kapag tumapak ka sa court, gawin mo yung best mo,” Tubino said.

“Sabi ko sa kanila, isa-isa lang tayo hanggang umabot tayo ng 25 (points). Wala nang ibang gagawin eh. Paisa-isa lang talaga.”

Isa Molde also had a solid all-around game to support Tubino’s exploits as she finished with 17 points, 12 digs and six receptions.

Tamaru Asaka, who led the Thunderbelles’ assault in the first set, finished with 23 points but that wasn’t enough as to stop ZUS’ woes early in the tournament.

Faki, having played just the tail-ends of the match sparingly, was limited to a four-point performance — a rarity for league reinforcements.

The Thunderbelles had the non-scoring departments covered, with reigning NCAA MVP Cloanne Mondonedo’s 20 excellent sets and a defensive double-double from the PVL Draft’s penultimate pick Jenina Zeta with 18 receptions and 10 digs.

But such staggering numbers weren’t enough in the end as they dropped to an 0-3 hole midway through the opening round of pool play.