No need to panic for Choco Mucho after just one loss in PVL Reinforced
ALL the way from cloud nine thanks to back-to-back Finals trips, Choco Mucho came crashing down in a straight-sets loss at the hands of Cignal to begin its 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference campaign.
The absences of Alas Pilipinas stars Sisi Rondina and Cherry Nunag alongside on-the-mend Flying Titans Des Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya led to what head coach Dante Alinsunurin identified as a ‘personnel problem’ before the conference even started.
And despite the entries of veteran spiker Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Greek reinforcement Zoi Faki, there’s still a noticeable void on offense for the two-time runners-up.
Faki’s 13 points and Santiago-Manabat’s eight were Choco Mucho’s best scoring efforts — and even a floor-clearing 25 digs and 15 receptions from two-time PVL best libero Thang Ponce couldn’t make up for the lacking scoring.
Just like any transitioning team in the midst of adapting to key losses and changes, however, Faki believes it’ll take time for the Flying Titans to bring back their winning form.
“I think the system is great. We have a totally new lineup. We’re missing a lot of key players. They took the team to the championship (series) last conference, but we need time. That’s all I have to say,” she said.
“I think that we’re playing great. I think that we have a lot of potential. I think the passion is there, but we need time. I think we have it inside us and we’ll keep going.”
Mucho gusto, PVL fans
On the bright side, the Greek spiker lauded the goddess-like treatment of being welcomed by roaring cheers from the devout Choco Mucho fanbase in her PVL debut.
“It was truly amazing to get out of the tunnel for warm-ups and just listening to the Choco Mucho fans. It’s one of my first times actually (experiencing) something like this,” she said.
“We didn’t get the result that we wanted, so I couldn’t say it was a good first experience, but I would say we got a lot of lessons from this game today and we’re moving forward.”
And even if Faki fired a variety of power hits and crafty attacks to outsmart the red-hot HD Spikers, the defense-oriented style of Philippine volleyball is one she hopes to understand and penetrate with better efficiency moving forward.
“I would say that the level is good, even great. Filipinos have a lot of defense and I think that it was very clear to me. Even if I was taking smart shots, even if I was going with power, Cignal did a great job on getting the ball up,” she said.
“It’s a hard level to play if you’re not used to the rallies.”
