By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans averted disaster and needed a late offensive stretch to overcome the tough challenge from the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, 25-16, 25-11, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12, in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on August 13, 2024, at the Philsports Arena.
After a disappointing 1-4 start in the import-laced conference, the Flying Titans finally returned to the PVL winning column and will need to bag their remaining games to stay in contention for the playoffs.
Choco Mucho was in their best form after schooling Chery Tiggo in the first two sets but an unexpected counter-rally from the Crossovers changed the complexion of the entire match.
In the crucial third set, the Crossovers finally lessened their unforced errors and fortified their middle blocking to steal one frame and force a fourth set.
Despite another hot start from the Flying Titans, Chery Tiggo replicated its last stretch outing in the third to level the contest at 2-2, forcing a tiebreaker fifth set.
As Choco Mucho was put in a dangerous hole heading into the fifth, the Rebisco-backed franchise finally found an answer as unsung hero Mean Mendrez stepped up when her team needed her the most.
Mendrez, who is usually on the bench during the crucial games for the Flying Titans, was inserted into the lineup and paid off the trust that the coaching staff gave her.
The veteran hitter scored timely spikes for Choco Mucho and took the courage to deliver the clutch conversions to help the Flying Titans return to the driver’s seat in the final five possessions of the fifth.
With the energy that Mendrez injected into the team, the rest of the stars then came to play and sealed the win with back-to-back points.
Mendrez capped off her solid outing with a team-high 18 points derived from 14 successful attacks, two blocks, and a service ace.
Backstopping Mendrez’s rampage for the Flying Titans is newly-acquired outside hitter Dindin Santiago-Manabat who tallied 17 markers.
Choco Mucho will aim for its third win of the import-laced conference on August 17, 2024, as they take on the Creamline Cool Smashers in a rematch of the last All-Filipino Conference’s championship series.
