TRANSFER of player update. To improve its injury-plagued frontline for the upcoming 2022 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Saturday, Choco Mucho signed Maika Ortiz. 

On its social media profiles, the team supported by Rebisco announced the news. 

In the middle, Ortiz will collaborate with Bea De Leon and Shannen Palec. The loss of Aduke Ogunsanya (ACL), who sustained the injury at the Invitationals, has left the Flying Titans in a state of shock.

Reason for the roster update

Just in July, Choco Mucho experienced yet another severe setback. 

Aduke Ogunsanya, a middle blocker, had her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) torn, the team reported.

The team’s statement reads, “The Choco Mucho Flying Titans Management informs our fans that Aduke Ogunsanya suffered a torn ACL on her right knee last July 19 during their match against Black Mamba Army.”

After falling on Caitlyn Viray’s left foot during a block attempt toward the end of the Flying Titans’ four-set defeat against Army-Black Mamba on Tuesday, Ogunsanya suffered the injury. 

Des Cheng, Cherry Nunag, and Kat Tolentino, three of the team’s starters, were already missing. Second-string libero Thang Ponce did not wear a uniform either. 

Maddie Madayag, the star middle blocker and captain for Choco Mucho, missed the competition as well because she sustained the same injury as Ogunsanya during the team’s 2021 Open Conference campaign.

Choco Mucho pledged to support Ogunsanya’s recuperation, just like they did in Madayag’s instance. 

“Management will ensure Aduke gets the best possible medical care for her to come back stronger in due time,” read the team’s statement.

“Let’s keep Duke in our prayers and send her our love and well wishes.”

The Flying Titans later on suffered a lose streak having multiple consecutive injuries in their roster.

On Mika Ortiz transfer

Maddie Madayag is also out due to an ACL rupture. The former Ateneo star’s participation in the Reinforced conference is still up in the air, though. 

In the Invitationals, Choco Mucho, who had health concerns the entire previous conference, came in seventh. 

In the meantime, Ortiz was fired from the Crossovers in an effort to help the team rebuild after a disappointing eighth-place showing in the same tournament.

Mika Ortiz Background

Maika Angela Ortiz, a Filipino volleyball player for the Foton Tornadoes squad in the PSL, was born on August 30, 1991. She presently plays volleyball for the women’s national team of the Philippines.

During her collegiate years, Ortiz was a member of the UST Golden Tigresses. In the volleyball competitions of the UAAP Season 74, she was named Best Attacker. She participated in Shakey’s V-League volleyball for the Philippine Air Force volleyball team. 

She also competed in the Philippine Super Liga and Premier Volleyball League with the Chery Tiggo Crossovers.

Individual Awards:

UAAP Season 74 “Best Attacker”

Shakey’s V-League 10th Season First Conference “Best Blocker”

Shakey’s V-League 11th Season Open Conference “Best Blocker”

2016 PSL Grand Prix Conference “2nd Best Middle Blocker”

2021 PNVF Champions League for Women “2nd Best Middle Blocker”

Team Awards:

2014 POC-PSC Philippine National Games Women’s Volleyball – Med 1.png Champions, with Philippine Air Force Lady Jet Spikers

2016 PSL All-Filipino Conference – Med 2.png Silver medal, with Foton Tornadoes

2016 PSL Grand Prix Conference – Med 1.png Champions, with Foton Tornadoes

2017 PSL Invitational Cup – Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Foton Tornadoes

2017 PSL Grand Prix Conference – Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Foton Tornadoes

2018 PSL Grand Prix Conference – Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Foton Tornadoes

2021 PVL Open Conference – Med 1.png Champions, with Chery Tiggo Crossovers

2021 PNVF Champions League for Women – Med 2.png Silver medal, with Chery Tiggo Crossovers