Choco Mucho ‘wasn’t ready’ to lose Alas players Rondina, Nunag

CHOCO Mucho fell into an 0-2 hole to start a PVL conference for the first time in their five-year run.

Fortunately for the Flying Titans, they righted the ship not long after – but not without a proper challenge – in a 14-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-18 comeback over cellar-dwelling ZUS Coffee.

It took four adversity-filled years before Choco Mucho picked up the pieces en route to back-to-back PVL Finals appearances.

Hence, dealing with issues such as fitness concerns surrounding import Zoi Faki and the absences of Alas Pilipinas’ Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag for the 2024 Southeast Asian (SEA) V.League from Aug. 2 to 4 and Aug. 9 to 11, as well as the injured pair of Des Cheng (knee) and Aduke Ogunsanya (knee), isn’t necessarily new.

PHOTO: Ivy Ferrer

Head coach Dante Alinsunurin, however, did admit that there were lapses in judgments before the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in terms of how they could best prepare without some of their stars.

“Hindi kami naging ready sa sitwasyon dahil bago kami pumasok dito sa second conference, alam na namin kung sino ‘yung maglalaro sa national team. Nagulat na lang kami nu’ng bandang huli na si Sisi na at si Nunag,” he said.

“Talagang hindi kami ready kasi alam namin na pagkuha ng import namin, hindi talaga (tugma) sa sitwasyon sa kailangan namin sa loob ng court. Nagkataon lang talaga na medyo nagulat, pero ‘yun nga, sabi ko naman nandyan na ‘yan, trabahuhin lang natin unti-unti kung sino ang nandyan.”

PHOTO: Ivy Ferrer

Such problems have already reared their ugly heads in the conference’s earlygoing, as they have resulted to miscommunication in defense and in-game adjustments.

“Medyo hirap na hirap kami sa communication sa loob ng court and kung ano ‘yung adjustment na gagawin kasi halos ang nasa loob ng court is bago talaga dahil nga three weeks lang kami nag-training kasama ‘yung mga bago,” said the Choco Mucho mentor.

“Sobrang nangangapa kami sa blockings namin, sa floor defense namin. Siguro ngayon, nakita ko na nakapag-adjust kami sa game na ito. Nakita ko na unti-unti nang bumabalik ulit yung ginagawa namin sa loob ng court. Sana lang mag tuloy-tuloy na ulit. “

‘We weren’t ready’

Aside from Alinsunurin, no one knows the Flying Titans ship like captain Maddie Madayag does.

And if there’s one thing she looks to instill in her undermanned crew, it’s to lock in their focus on who they have rather than who they’re missing.

PHOTO: Ivy Ferrer

Just like how Madayag & Co. dealt with problems of such magnitude in years and seasons past, pressing the panic button won’t ever be an option.

“Sense of urgency lang talaga, kasi hindi naman namin hinahanap yung wala. Meron lang talagang kailangang mag-step up, which is what happened today. Sana nga, sabi rin ni coach, magtuloy-tuloy na lahat po, gustong mag-step up para makuha yung panalo,” the fiery skipper said.