Choco squeaks past Farm Fresh

MANILA, Philippines —  It wasn’t the ending Choco Mucho wanted.

But the Flying Titans were just grateful enough to get through victory, albeit a close one, that should give them some confidence entering the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semifinals.

It came via a nerve-wracking 25-15, 24-26, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12 squeaker over gritty Farm Fresh last night that closed Choco Mucho’s elimination-round campaign on a high note after collecting its ninth win in 11 outings at the PhilSports Arena.

The Foxies fought gallantly, even seizing a two-set to one edge.

The Rebisco franchise, however, rallied back and took charge in the final two sets to claim the win that momentarily put them at the helm ahead of Petro Gazz, Creamline and Chery Tiggo, who dropped to a share of No. 2 on identical 8-2 cards.

Sisi Rondina was outgunned by Farm Fresh’s Trisha Tubu’s career-high 32-hit effort but the former had the last laugh by coming through in the clutch.

Farm Fresh ended its campaign with a 3-8 card.

Earlier, Nxled, featuring Camille Victoria and Ivy Lacsina, showed nerves of steel in the last two sets as it overhauled big deficits in overcoming Capital1 Solar, 25-13, 25-23, 25-22.

Victoria stepped up big for Nxled as she sprayed Capital1 Solar with 17 points, most of them in the critical stretches as Nxled claimed its fourth win against six losses.

“Kung ano ibigay na role sa akin ni coach Taka, gagawin ko,” said Victoria referring to Nxled’s Japanese mentor Takayuki Minowa.