By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans moved closer to a final seat in the PVL 1st All-Filipino Conference after a 25-20, 25-19, 25-23 beating of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the single-round robin semis at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday night, May 2.
Honey Royce Tubino finished with 17 points, built on 15 attacks and two blocks, to be named Player of the Game as the Flying Titans improved to a 2-0 win-loss slate in the semifinals round.
“Siguro, itong game, naka-mindset na kami na ibibigay namin ang best namin. Kailangan namin ang panalo na ito against Chery para tumaas ‘yung points namin, para makapasok sa finals,” Tubino said.
After flawless wins in the first two sets, the Flying Titans were tested in the third frame as the Crossovers kept the match close at 22-23 before Choco Mucho got a conversion from Tubino to reach match point at 24-22.
However, the Crossovers responded with an attack from Eya Laure to cut the deficit to 23-24, but a crucial service error by Chery Tiggo’s Pauline Gaston sealed the win for the Flying Titans.
“‘Yung kapit namin sa bawa’t isa, ‘yun ang nagpanalo sa amin nung third set, syempre hindi naman basta magpapatalo si Chery,” said Tubino, who was inserted in the starting lineup in lieu of injured Kat Tolentino.
Meanwhile, the Creamline Cool Smashers kept their title-retention bid alive with a 27-25, 23-25, 27-25, 26-24 triumph against the Petro Gazz Angels.
Both squads are now tied with a 1-1 win-loss slate.
Jessica Galanza finished with 23 points, built on 20 attacks, two blocks and one service ace, to be named Player of the Game as the Cool Smashers will look to seal their finals seat against the Crossovers on Sunday, May 5.
Down 22-24 late in the fourth set, the Cool Smashers got a break after the Angels’ MarJana Phillips committed a service error and Negrense Jonah Sabete had an attacking error, tying the score at 24-all.
Galanza then stepped up for the Cool Smashers with a down-the-line hit to take a 25-24 lead.
She then followed this up with a booming hit from the middle to secure the hard-earned win for the defending champion./ASC, WDJ