Choco Mucho rips Black Mamba in PVL

Games on Sunday
(Paco Arena)
3 p.m. - Cignal vs F2 Logistics
6 p.m. - Chery Tiggo vs Choco Mucho

MANILA, Philippines – Reloaded Choco Mucho clobbered Black Mamba Army, 25-13, 25-11, 25-23, for a flying start in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila Friday.

The Flying Titans needed only one hour and 16 minutes to bag their debut win in straight sets as nine players hit the board led by Kat Tolentino with 11 points on nine kills.

Ponggay Gaston and Caitlyn Viray added eight and seven markers, respectively, with new recruits Des Cheng (6), Cherry Nunag (5) and Isa Molde (5) also making their presence felt in Choco Mucho's scattered attack.

Deanna Wong set the table with 22 excellent sets for the Flying Titans in their 1-0 Pool A start entering an early collision course against reigning champion Chery Tiggo Sunday.

"The tournament is very short so every game is a must win. We thank God that he gave us strength to get this first win but we'll take it one game at a time," said coach Oliver Almadro.

"We expect the competition to get tougher along the way so we just have to prepare harder, focus and character-wise," he added.

Choco Mucho hardly broke a sweat in the first two sets with a combined winning margin of 16 points before being pushed to the limit in the third frame by the resilient Army side.

The Lady Troopers even snatched a 22-21 lead before Wong and Tolentino restored order for the Flying Titans in their 4-1 finishing kick.

Jeanette Villareal (7) and Audrey Paran (7) led Army in another losing cause as ace spiker Honey Royse Tubino settled for only two markers.

The Lady Troopers, who also bowed to F2 Logistics in the opener Wednesday, remained winless in two matches in Pool A heading into their duel against Chery Tiggo next Tuesday.