Flying Titans smother Thunderbelles, gain momentum heading into play-in stage
With Des Cheng and Maddie Madayag contributing despite playing under the weather on Thursday, Choco Mucho finished the first phase of the PVL All-Filipino Conference eliminations as the seventh seed and will go through the play-in after a 27-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-19 victory over ZUS Coffee.
The duo chipped in 10 points each to help Sisi Rondina as the Flying Titans ended the first round with back-to-back wins at the Filoil EcoOil Centre for the momentum they needed for the play-in stage, where they are likely to land in Group 2 alongside the sixth and 10th-ranked teams, including the Thunderbelles.
Madayag, who just returned from a cleanup treatment on her knee, believes her team is ready to go through any pathway and do whatever it takes to reach the top.
“It feels like our team always has to struggle first before winning,” Madayag said in Filipino. “But honestly, we need to realize there are other ways to win. We don’t always have to go through something so difficult.
“We need confidence in how we can get the win and figure out how to really connect as a team. We need to communicate more,” she went on. “We can’t just leave things as they are. Hopefully, we take this as inspiration and motivation so we can keep our momentum going.”
‘This is our job’
Cheng, who had eight attacks and two blocks that were laced with 14 digs and seven receptions, also struggled with illness, but it didn’t stop her from giving the Flying Titans a much-needed boost through her performance and leadership.
“This is our job. No matter what we’re feeling, we have to work,” she said. “Whether we’re sick or not, we still train every day, so we already know what to do physically and mentally.
At this point, it’s about staying strong and trusting each other,” she said. “Everyone on the team is mentally tough, so we just keep going.”
The former La Salle star is confident heading to the crucial part of the tournament after seeing a Choco Mucho squad not only centered on Rondina’s scoring prowess, as Eya Laure, Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Kat Tolentino, Lorraine Pecaña, Jai Atienza, setter Deanna Wong and Thang Ponce are all helping each other.
“Maybe we also have to realize that this Choco Mucho team isn’t a one-(wo)man team anymore,” Cheng said. “Everyone can contribute, whoever the coach calls, even those coming off the bench.”
