Choco Mucho logs deleted win over Belen, Capital1
MONTALBAN—With the imports unable to make their mark, the locals took their chance to hog the spotlight on opening night.
Bella Belen, the most anticipated rookie in the Premier Volleyball League, delivered everything Capital1 could’ve hoped for—and more. But even her spectacular debut wasn’t enough to stop Choco Mucho’s balance and veteran resolve.
In a thrilling all-Filipino matchup hastily arranged due to the delayed endorsement of international transfer clearances (ITC) of foreign players, Choco Mucho swept Capital1, 33-31, 26-24, 25-23, late Tuesday evening at Ynares Center here.
Yet the straight-sets scoreline told nothing of the drama.
“It was really tough to contain [Belen],” said Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin. “But we just stuck to our game plan … even if we were able to stop her once or twice in a set, it was already a huge help to our team.”
The three-time UAAP MVP exploded for 20 points and added 18 digs and 12 receptions—jaw-dropping numbers for a debutante. But with the game on the line, it was Choco Mucho that made the stops that mattered.
Belen’s next shot
“We knew that every time their reception wasn’t perfect, they’d likely give the ball to Belen—probably 85 to 90 percent of the time,” Alinsunurin told the Inquirer. “We worked hard to respond to whatever situation came up.”
“I think what I need to develop more is patience,” Belen said post-game. “This is a different level. It’s not like the UAAP anymore … I used to move with hesitation or fear. But now, I’ve left that behind. That was in the UAAP. I need to be more aggressive now.”
Belen will get more help now as ITC’s have finally been cleared. And to ensure fairness, the league will replay the opening-day games, rendering the results meaningless.
Still, Tuesday’s results will not be easily forgotten.
Helping foil Belen’s heroics was the return of Kat Tolentino, who scored 15 points in her first match since suffering a ruptured appendix earlier this year. Isa Molde, Royse Tubino, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Maddie Madayag and Lorraine Pecaña also contributed key plays in crunch time.
“There are definitely more options in our game now,” said Alinsunurin. “In the previous conference, we struggled with adjustments. Now, I’m thankful that when we face tough situations, we’re finding ways to recover.”
Capital1, despite the loss, showed that it’s no longer the league’s pushover, which Alinsunurin acknowledged: “They’re really putting up a fight now.”
Belen will get another shot in an official game this time—with Ukrainian import Oleksandra Bytsenko by her side—as Capital1 faces preseason champion PLDT on Monday.
Meanwhile, Choco Mucho reloads with import Marlee Smith and Fil-Am rookie Tia Andaya against powerhouse Cignal.
