By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans kicked off the Dante Alinsunurin era with a dominant win over the Akari Chargers, 25-15, 25-20, 25-20, in the ongoing 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
Choco Mucho proved to be too much for the young Akari team who is still adjusting to their newly-formed roster for the 2023 playing season.
Maddie Madayag showed out and was finally back with her usual playing minutes after being cleared by the team doctors.
The former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) middle blocker suffered a nasty knee injury several conferences ago and had to sit out for almost two years before cracking the Choco Mucho rotation again.
Madayag wasted no time and paid off the trust coach Alinsunurin gave her after finishing the flawless victory with 11 points built from nine successful attacks, a block, and an ace.
Backstopping her were the towering duo of Kat Tolentino and Bea De Leon who also produced the same amount of points as Madayag.
Isa Molde, who became a revelation since earning longer minutes with the Flying Titans, chipped in 10 points including huge answers when Akari made a mini-offensive run during the second set.
“Sobrang masaya talaga. Parang kinikilabutan pa rin ako siguro kasi first time ko manalo sa PVL kaya ayun, ramdam na ramdam ko pa yung panalo namin,” Alinsunurin said after the game.
On the other hand, the Choco Mucho spoiled huge efforts from Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Janine Marciano who carried the offense for Akari after combining for 30 points.
The Chargers will seek to bounce back and place themselves in the winning column when they clash with the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on February 11, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Flying Titans will look to clinch back-to-back wins on February 9, 2023, against the retooled Petro Gazz Angels.
