MANILA, Philippines – Known for their tenacity and will to fight, Choco Mucho defeated a resolute Galeries Tower team in an exciting five-set match, winning 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12 at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan on Thursday in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminary round.

Kat Tolentino led the Flying Titans to their first victory of the season with an incredible 27-point performance that included seven blocks. Her powerful play sealed the two-hour, 37-minute marathon, aided by a clutch finish from Sisi Rondina and an impressive net defense from freshman Lorraine Pecaña.

After initially having trouble finding her tempo, Rondina grabbed control in the endgame by delivering her trademark strong hits, remarkable hang-time, and versatility, upending Galeries Tower’s defensive strategy. To complete the victory, she scored the last two points, including a kill on the right side.

Choco Mucho successfully recovered from their difficult four-set defeat to Petro Gazz last weekend, winning to square their season record at 1-1. Galeries Tower failed to earn their first victory and ended up with a 0–2 record in the tournament, despite some remarkable shows of power and tenacity. Choco Mucho’s teamwork enabled them to take advantage of crucial moves and hold onto the ball during pivotal points in the game.

Kat Tolentino, a key player in the team’s triumph, said she was relieved and happy to be back on the court and help her team win. Tolentino’s perseverance in the face of exhaustion demonstrated the team’s dedication to support one another and perseverance, which was a key component in winning. Her effort demonstrated Choco Mucho’s collective strength as they proceeded with increased confidence in the season, as did the team’s trust and tenacity.

Tolentino won first place for her overall performance after combining her offensive skill with ten outstanding digs.

Throughout the match, Choco Mucho encountered a number of difficulties, including a tight fifth set in which they fell behind 0-2. But because of Pecaña’s timely blocks, they came back to take an 8-5 lead, which helped the Flying Titans gain the upper hand.

Throughout the match, Choco Mucho encountered a number of difficulties, including a tight fifth set in which they fell behind 0-2. But because of Pecaña’s timely blocks, they came back to take an 8-5 lead, which helped the Flying Titans gain the upper hand.

Despite Choco Mucho’s attack error, which put Galeries Tower behind 10-11, Pecaña, who concluded with a remarkable seven-block effort, and substitute Des Cheng were able to open a three-point buffer with another block and a serve ace.

Rondina scored the game-winning kill on a set by Mars Alba after Galeries Tower’s Ysa Jimenez preserved a match point, capping a thrilling match and guaranteeing Choco Mucho’s triumph.

Cherry Nunag, Pecaña, and Isa Molde contributed 14, 10, and 7 points, respectively, while Rondina finished with 19 points and eight outstanding receptions. Galeries Tower lost by a slim margin in spikes (61-60), but the Flying Titans controlled the net (22-11), displaying their impressive net presence.

The Highrisers proved they are a team to watch in the Sports Vision league by leaving with their heads held high despite the defeat.

Jimenez, France Ronquillo, and Julia Coronel each added 13, 11, and 10 points, while rookie Jewel Encarnacion topped the Highrisers with 18. With a much better offensive and a lot of potential, the Highrisers were ready to leave their imprint on the league.

The Flying Titans are still working on establishing their rhythm and unity on the court, but they are still confident in their abilities. Kat Tolentino expressed confidence that the team has much more to contribute as the season goes on, emphasizing that this early stage is just the beginning of their adventure. She demonstrated a great commitment to ongoing development, highlighting the Titans’ perseverance and hard work as they strive for victory in future games.