Almadro resigns as Choco Mucho coach

Oliver Almadro has resigned as head coach of Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League after three seasons.

The club announced in a social media post on Tuesday that the Flying Titans management has accepted the request of Almadro to step down from his post citing his intention to focus on his job as coach of the Ateneo de Manila University women's volleyball team.

"The Choco Mucho Flying Titans organization announces the acceptance of the request of head coach Oliver Almadro to step down from his post in CMFT. This decision was reached for him to focus his efforts in developing the Ateneo de Manila women's volleyball program and will take effect immediately," the club statement read.

Assistant coach Edjet Mabbayad will take over as interim mentor of the Flying Titans, who were playing Army in a crucial encounter in their Reinforced Conference semifinals bid at the Smart Araneta Coliseum as of press time.

Almadro, according to the club, will continue to be involved in the Rebisco volleyball program as a consultant.

"Being head coach of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans has become one of the greatest blessings and opportunities that I have received. Though this may be abrupt and with heavy hearts, I have requested from the Rebisco Management, that I be allowed to step down as head coach of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans," Almadro said in a post on his Twitter account.

"I may not be coaching CMFT but I will still be part of Rebisco and their volleyball program."

Almadro took the position when Choco Mucho joined the PVL in 2019. Under his watch the crowd-drawing Flying Titans finished fourth in the 2021 and 2022 Open conferences.

Hobbled by injuries, Choco Mucho ended at a dismal seventh place in the 2022 Invitational Conference.

The Flying Titans behind Uzbek-Azerbaijani import Odina Aliyeva, Kat Tolentino, Bea De Leon, Des Cheng and Isa Molde remain in the thick of the battle for the remaining two semis seats with a 2-3 win-loss record despite losing their last two matches.