Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
CHOCO Mucho is set to do battle with foreign teams in the VTV Cup International Women’s Volleyball Tournament in Vietnam even as it also aims to gain the much-needed experience that could propel the Flying Titans to greater heights in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
Choco Mucho has not reached the PVL semifinals for two years now but with new coach Dante Alinsunurin in tow, the goal for Choco Mucho is to make the Final Four and eventually win the PVL crown.
READY FOR BATTLE In this file photo, the Flying Titans celebrate during their PVL Invitational Conference game against Petro Gazz at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on July 15, 2023. PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO
The Flying Titans hope their campaign in the VTV Cup can help them realize their goal when the PVL All-Filipino Conference opens this October.
“We want to raise our standing in the PVL. From seventh [in the Invitational Conference], we want to reach the Final Four,” said Alinsunurin.
The last time the Flying Titans reached the semis was in the 2021 Open Conference under former head coach Oliver Almadro, who now coaches Petro Gazz.
Preparing for his third PVL conference as the Choco Mucho chief tactician, Alinsunurin said that playing at the international level can only bode well for his players.
“It will make them more skilled and competitive when they return to the country’s professional volleyball league,” he said.
“Our international exposure will be huge for us. We know how players develop when they play in international volleyball level. They become more confident.”
Led by Sisi Rondina and Deanna Wong, the Flying Titans face the Vietnamese national team 1 built around star players Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Doan Thi Lam Oanh in Lao Cai on Saturday, August 19, at 8:30 p.mChoco Mucho, then takes on the Vietnam national team 2 on Sunday and Australia on Monday.
After a one day rest, the Flying Titans resume their campaign against Mongolia on Wednesday.
Choco Mucho then battles South Korea’s Suwon Club on Thursday and Japan’s Kansai University on Friday to wrap up its group phase action.
The seven-team tournament will have a single round-robin format where the top two teams battle for the championship while the third and fourth best teams collide for the bronze medal.
The fifth and sixth teams, on the other hand, will clash for the number five spot.
*****
Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
