CHOCOLATE EXPLOSION: Tolentino drops 27, fuels Choco Mucho rally

Games Saturday:

(Ynares Center)

4 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs Cignal

6:30 p.m. — Creamline vs Petro Gazz

Choco Mucho went through the wringer to repulse hard-fighting Galeries Tower in a tough five-set victory, 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12, and barge in the win column of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Kat Tolentino took the spotlight in the hard-earned and exhausting triumph as the Flying Titans rebounded from a sorry loss against Petro Gazz in the tournament opener last Saturday.

The runner-up in the previous edition of the all-local contest banked on its experience and poise to submit the young Highrisers side, which gave Choco Mucho a scare until the final stretch of the two-hour, 51-minute match.

Tolentino shone the brightest for the Flying Titans, banging in 27 points coming off 20 attacks and seven kill blocks in a superb net coverage.

“It feels tiring but I’m okay. It’s nice to be back with the team and help them,” said Tolentino, who also submitted 10 digs.

“I think we just have to stick to the system and trust each other. Prove that we’re a fighting team, that we’re fighting up to the last point. So that’s what happened,” she added.

“We have a lot to work on still and we have to keep on working hard. It’s just the beginning and we have a lot more to give.”

Mars Alba did a great job distributing the ball with 20 excellent sets that got four Choco Mucho hitters in double figures.

Sisi Rondina finished with 19 points, all from spikes including the back-to-back kills to ice the deciding frame.

Cherry Nunag had 14 markers while rookie middle blocker Lorraine Pecana scored seven of her 10 points from kill blocks for Choco Mucho, which recorded a season-best 22 kill blocks.

The Flying Titans recovered from a 0-2 hole in the fifth set before unleashing a telling run midway in the frame to take an 11-7 lead.

Galeries Tower fought back to cut it down to one, 11-10, before Choco Mucho answered with a 3-1 counter to move at match point after a Rondina spike.

Highrisers rookie setter Juju Coronel saved a point before Rondina sealed the win.

“We really worked hard for this win and credit to the Galeries for fighting until the end. This win gives us confidence. Thankfully we got this win. It’s tough but worth every sweat,” Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin said.

Jewel Encarnacion had 18 points while Ysa Jimenez got 13 markers but were not enough to save Galeries Tower from absorbing a second straight loss in as many games.

France Ronquillo got 11 points in three sets of action and Coronel got 10 markers and 11 excellent sets.