Rondina, Flying Titans Rally Past Crossovers, Reach Quarters

Games Tuesday

4 p.m. – Akari vs. Farm Fresh
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs. ZUS Coffee

Choco Mucho triumphed in a thrilling clash filled with momentum swings, composure under pressure, and intense rallies, defeating Chery Tiggo, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23, to secure the fourth quarterfinal spot in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at Philsports Arena in Pasig late Saturday.

Sisi Rondina led the charge for the Flying Titans with an 18-point performance, including back-to-back off-the-block hits that capped their rally from five points down. The win mirrored Choco Mucho’s earlier sweep of the Crossovers in Iloilo, 25-18, 25-23, 26-24, at the close of the preliminary round.

That Iloilo victory secured Choco Mucho the No. 5 seed, and this latest triumph sent them to the best-of-three quarterfinals, joining Creamline, Petro Gazz, and the surprising Galeries Tower.

“It’s all about composure—how we bounce back when we’re behind. We really worked for it, and it showed that every one of us wanted to win,” said Rondina in Filipino. The league’s most electrifying player, Rondina has consistently stood out with her high-flying and clutch performances.

She also credited their surge to trust in the coaches’ game plan.

Dindin Manabat delivered when it mattered most, scoring 13 points, while Lorraine Pecana contributed six in the middle. Cherry Nunag added five markers, and Isa Molde and Des Cheng each tallied four. Royse Tubino chipped in with three.

Chery Tiggo, which faltered in the first set and failed to complete its rally in the second, looked poised to force a fourth set after Shaya Adorador’s hit and ace gave the Crossovers a 20-16 lead. Pauline Gaston then extended the margin to five with a running attack.

But just as the Crossovers seemed in control, an Adorador service fault sparked Choco Mucho’s decisive 9-2 closing run.

The Flying Titans’ comeback was briefly halted when the Crossovers won a block touch challenge, turning a potential 21-20 deficit into a 22-19 lead. But Choco Mucho remained unfazed. Tubino’s off-speed hit and Rondina’s sharp kill tied the set at 22 before a Cess Robles attack error put the Flying Titans ahead.

Choco Mucho took firm control with a clutch ace from Regine Arocha. Though Seth Rodriguez momentarily halted the run with a block on Rondina, the former beach volleyball star rose to the occasion in the final moments.

Rondina’s first off-the-block hit came after a pancake save, and following a strong defensive stand, she sealed the one-hour, 47-minute match with a final hammer to clinch the quarterfinal berth.

The heartbreaking loss sent Chery Tiggo to the play-in tournament.

Ara Galang led the Crossovers with 18 points, while Adorador finished with 12. Robles added nine, Gaston contributed eight, and setter Jasmine Nabor chipped in with six.

Choco Mucho’s Late-Set Dominance

In a frenetic opening set filled with momentum swings, Choco Mucho delivered the final decisive push. Trailing for most of the way, the Flying Titans leaned on Manabat’s experience to claw back from a 17-20 deficit and steal the set.

A crucial moment came when Nabor executed a perfectly timed 1-2 play, capping an intense rally filled with scrambling saves. The play electrified the crowd as Chery Tiggo briefly regained a 19-17 lead.

Gaston extended the Crossovers’ advantage to three with a clutch putaway.

However, Choco Mucho refused to back down. Manabat stepped up, scoring two of the Flying Titans’ next three points, aided by a Nabor attack error, to force the set’s seventh deadlock.

Chery Tiggo then faltered with consecutive attack errors from Galang and Jules Samonte, allowing Choco Mucho to seize a 22-20 lead.

The Crossovers stayed within striking distance as Rondina’s back-row off-speed attempt fell short, but Nunag responded with a quick hit off a Mars Alba set, restoring a two-point cushion.

A Robles kill trimmed the deficit again, but Alba’s playmaking set up Manabat for a powerful through-the-block hit. With the set on the line, Choco Mucho’s defense held firm, as Tubino stuffed Robles’ attack, the ball deflecting into the open Zone 1 to seal the set.

Flying Titans Withstand Crossovers’ Surge

Choco Mucho flipped the script in the second set, surging to a 16-13 lead at the second technical timeout and moving closer to a commanding 2-0 advantage.

The Flying Titans outplayed and outmaneuvered the erratic Crossovers down the stretch, pulling away to a 23-18 lead.

However, Chery Tiggo wasn’t done yet, mounting a four-point rally to cut the deficit to 22-23, highlighted by a key block on Manabat and an ace from Galang.

But just as the Crossovers seemed ready to steal the set, a costly miscommunication led to another attack error. Seizing the moment, Manabat delivered a smartly placed push off the hands of a Chery Tiggo defender, sending the ball out of bounds and securing the set in dramatic fashion.

Despite outhitting Choco Mucho 15-12 in the frame, Chery Tiggo’s struggles were evident, as the Crossovers committed nine unforced errors. In contrast, the Flying Titans played with poise, limiting their errors to just three and capitalizing on their opponents’ miscues.

With the victory, Choco Mucho not only advanced but also reinforced its reputation as a resilient, battle-tested squad ready for the tougher challenges ahead.