Flying Titans team to beat next season

(UPDATE) AFTER finishing seventh in each of the past four conferences, Choco Mucho turned things around in the 2023 PVL 2nd All-Filipino Conference.

The Flying Titans took flight and reached the Finals for the first time albeit bowed to the perennial champions Creamline Cool Smashers, 0-2.

Middle blocker Maddie Madayag said that the way Choco Mucho played this conference, where it won 12 of its last 16 games highlighted by a 10-game winning streak, is a notice to the league that the Flying Titans are no longer pushovers.

If anything, they’re one of the teams to beat moving forward.

Choco Mucho’s top hitter Sisi Rondina (right) PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO 

“We really played well this conference and it was evident that the team fought really hard. We fell short. We still have a lot of work to do but we’ve already accomplished a lot,” said Madayag following Choco Mucho’s Finals Game Two loss to Creamline at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Saturday.

Madayag played her hearts out in the contest as she dropped 16 points in the thrilling 25-22, 20-25, 27-29, 26-24, 12-15 5-setter before a Philippine volleyball record crowd of 24,459 fans at the Big Dome.

“We’re very grateful, at least everything is coming together and Choco Mucho’s improvement is very evident this year. It’s a statement to all the teams that we’re not pushovers and I guess we’re one of the teams to beat coming into the next conference.”

Madayag also credited the Choco Mucho coaching staff led by Dante Alinsunurin for its patience and trust to the players.

“We’re very thankful to our coaches for their trust and patience. We’re stubborn but coach Dante and company were patient, they trusted us and didn’t give up on us.”

Does Choco Mucho feel the pressure of high expectations now following this silver medal finish? Madayag said the Flying Titans are not even thinking about it.

“We’re not thinking about it (pressure and expectations). We’re just focused on our team.”