By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Cherry Rondina delivered clutch hits as the Choco Mucho Flying Titans pulled off a 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16 triumph against the Creamline Cool Smashers in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference semifinals at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday, April 30.
With the score tied at 16-all late in the fifth set, Rondina unloaded a booming hit to send the Flying Titans to match point, 17-16.
She then followed it up with an off-the-block hit to give Choco Mucho their first-ever PVL win over sister team Creamline.
Rondina finished the game with 23 points, built on 21 attacks, one block and a service ace, as the Flying Titans secured their first victory in the single-round robin semifinals round.
“Kanina sa game, kina-cramps na ako, pero ang inisip ko na lang is kailangan kong tulungan ‘yung mga teammates ko inside the court,” Rondina said.
“Masaya naman at nagbunga ‘yung mga trinabaho namin sa training,” she added.
Honey Royce Tubino backed up Rondina offensively with 20 points, including some timely hits in the fifth set, for Choco Mucho, which is shorthanded with the injuries of Kat Tolentino, Desiree Cheng and Ilongga Aduke Ogunsanya.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga players na nag-step up. Talagang kulang kami sa tao [dahil sa injuries], pero nanindigan kami na kukunin namin ‘yung mga trabahong naiwan nila, and ‘yun lang, laro lang talaga, nag-enjoy lang,” Rondina said.
“Nagtrabaho lang kami, ipinakita namin ‘yung puso at tibay. Sinabi ko lang sa kanila na hindi naman natatapos ang laro sa two sets, kaya [may chance] pa kami na tapusin ito ng maganda, and thankful na maganda ‘yung resulta kasi nanalo kami,” she added.
Meanwhile, Ilongga Aiza Maizo-Pontillas had a throwback game as the Petro Gazz Angels prevailed over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, 20-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-16, to take an early lead in the semis.
The former University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses standout finished with 18 points, built on 15 attacks and three blocks, to earn the Player of the Game honors for the Angels.
“Nung first set siguro nara-rattle kami. Hindi namin alam ‘yung gagawin namin, hindi maayos ‘yung mga ginagawa namin, pero eventually, naayos naman kasi nag-usap usap kami,” Maizo-Pontillas said./ASC, WDJ