Choco Mucho Flying Titans
The Choco Mucho Flying Titans and Cignal HD Spikers aim to keep their winning momentum alive as they take the court on Thursday in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Both squads are tied for third place with identical 6-3 records, making their upcoming matches crucial in securing a higher seeding for the knockout stage.
Flying Titans seek fifth straight victory
Choco Mucho is riding a four-game winning streak, with its latest triumph coming against Akari on February 8. The Flying Titans claimed a 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15 victory, showcasing their depth and resilience.
Team captain Cherry Ann Rondina delivered 18 points in that match, powered by 17 attacks and a block. Aleona Denise Manabat contributed 11 points, while Ma. Lina Isabel Molde added eight points, including two blocks.
With Rondina, Manabat, and Molde leading the charge, Choco Mucho will also count on Cherry Rose Nunag, Desiree Cheng, and setter Deanna Wong to step up when they take on the Nxled Chameleons at 4 p.m.
“It’s all about teamwork. One player alone can’t win a game,” Wong emphasized, crediting their recent success to the collective effort. “We’re happy because we are achieving our goals.”
On the other side, Nxled, which recently secured its first win in nine outings by defeating Galeries Tower 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 25-23, will rely on EJ Laure, Chiara Permentilla, May Luna, Jaycel delos Reyes, and Lycha Ebon to put up an intense fight.
The Chameleons will wrap up their preliminary round campaign against Petro Gazz (8-1) on February 20.
Cignal aims for back-to-back wins
Meanwhile, the Cignal HD Spikers will square off against ZUS Coffee in the 6:30 p.m. match.
Cignal recently snapped a two-game skid with a dominant 25-12, 25-15, 25-17 victory over the Capital1 Solar Spikers last week. The team is banking on its key players, including Ma. Rochelle Lalongisip, Judith Abil, and Roselyn Doria-Aquino, to maintain their winning ways.
ZUS Coffee, on the other hand, will lean on Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chai Troncoso, Thea Gagate, Michelle Gamit, Gayle Pascual, Chinnie Arroyo, and Kate Santiago.
Despite falling to the Petro Gazz Angels in a tightly contested 20-25, 26-24, 26-28, 22-25 match last February 4, Santiago shined with 21 points, while Troncoso added 19 points, proving they have the firepower to challenge any team.
Path to the playoffs
Following the preliminary round, the 12 teams will be ranked based on the FIVB system, which considers wins, points, and set ratios.
The knockout round matchups will be determined as follows:
- The No. 1 seed will face No. 12,
- No. 2 will battle No. 11,
- And so on.
The six winners from this stage will advance to the quarterfinals, while the remaining six teams will compete in a play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff spots.
With the playoff race heating up, Choco Mucho and Cignal will look to solidify their standing and build momentum for the crucial knockout rounds ahead.