Choco Mucho’s MAddie Madayag during a PVL semifinals game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After 13 tries, Maddie Madayag and the Choco Mucho Flying Titans found the perfect time to beat the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2024 PVL All-FIlipino Conference semifinals.
Despite getting dominated in the first two sets, the Flying Titans applied the right adjustments to earn their first win against their sister team since joining the league five years ago, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16, Tuesday evening in front of 6,407 fans at Philsports Arena.
It was worth the wait and effort for Madayag, who provided seven of the team’s 15 blocks to spark their comeback to win their first semis round-robin game.
SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference semifinals 2024
“Finally!” said Madayag, who has been with Choco Mucho since it joined the league in 2019. “We’ve been preparing for them for so many conferences but we always come short. We’ve gone through so much, but finally. We played bad in the first two sets, but at least we were able to bounce back.”
THE LOSING STREAK IS OVER!
WATCH: Choco Mucho ends a 12-game skid against Creamline! #PVL2024 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/LxbYdMaXfa
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 30, 2024
“Coach Dante [Alinsunurin] emphasized teamwork and we’re very grateful to the Lord.”
The Choco Mucho captain believes that the new pieces including Royse Tubino and Mars Alba and their experience including getting swept by Creamline in the previous All-Filipino Conference help them overcome a 12-game losing streak.
Choco Mucho’s MAddie Madayag during the PVL semifinals game against Creamline Cool Smashers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“I think our finals experience against them helped. Now we can read them better,” said Madayag.
“Of course, the addition of the veteran players and setters like Mars. She’s really had a ploy that made it seem like she was giving the ball to me, but she then gives it to Ate Royse. We really give credit to our teammates because they didn’t give up.”
The ace middle blocker credited their fifth set composure to the veteran smarts of Tubino, who had 20 points and 12 digs to backstop Sisi Rondina’s 23-point effort to overcome the tough challenge of Creamline despite missing Tots Carlos due to her South Korea tryouts.
“I think we’ve had so many games against Creamline that reached five sets, and during crunch time we always come up short. It’s because they’re more mature being one of the top teams for a while, and we’re only starting to rise.”
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“Ate Royse really gave us additional maturity which what we have been lacking all this time. Hopefully we’re able to sustain our maturity and confidence as a team.”
Choco Mucho, which seeks to return to the PVL Finals for the second straight conference, battles Chery Tiggo on Thursday for its second win before wrapping up its semis round against Petro Gazz on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.