SUMMARY
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The Choco Mucho Flying Titans made all the right plays in Game 1 of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference semifinals and downed the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in a stunning straight-sets sweep, 25-18, 25-22, 25-21, on Sunday, August 8.
Practically playing fresh from the Crossovers’ non-bearing rout the day prior, Deanna Wong orchestrated the offense on point when it truly counted and finished with Player of the Game honors off 16 excellent sets and 4 points.
The rest of Choco Mucho’s star core clearly benefited as well from head coach Oliver Almadro’s benching in the previous game as Kat Tolentino led the team anew with 11 points off 9 attacks.
Ponggay Gaston and Bea de Leon scored 10 markers apiece, while Maddie Madayag chipped in 9 points with 3 blocks.
Chery Tiggo looked poised to tie things up at 1-1 after leading 22-20 in the second set. However, Choco Mucho came out of nowhere with a last-gasp 5-0 run capped by back-to-back Tolentino hits to steal the set for the huge 2-0 lead.
Demoralized with their stunning giveaway, the Crossovers could only watch helplessly as the Flying Titans soared to a massive 7-0 start in the do-or-die third frame, totaling 12 unanswered points bridging back to the previous set’s finishing kick.
Sisters Jaja and Dindin Santiago did what they could to get momentum back for Chery Tiggo, but their comeback rally only got as near as 2 points, 19-21, before Choco Mucho finished them off for good.
Dindin had herself a good game in the forgettable loss with a game-high 17 points off 15 attacks, while Jaja and Shaya Adorador added 9 markers apiece.
“I will not say that we dominated. We just played right and maybe the opponents were just stunned as well,” Almadro said. “We have to keep on doing what is right, that’s all. I commend my players because they were disciplined in what they were meant to do.”
In their third straight match with the Crossovers in as many days, the Flying Titans can clinch their young franchise’s first-ever finals berth with a series sweep at 2 pm on Monday, August 9.
Their sister team and defending conference champion Creamline Cool Smashers can also clinch their fifth straight finals spot with a win over the fourth-seeded Petro Gazz Angels in the main event at 5 pm. – Rappler.com
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