In desperate need of firepower, Choco Mucho reactivated Mean Mendrez, and the former UE standout delivered a clutch performance, scoring 18 points in her return as the Flying Titans edged out the Chery Tiggo Crossovers with a thrilling 25-16, 25-11, 23-25, 19-25, 15-12 victory, keeping their quarterfinal hopes alive in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Philsports Arena yesterday.
Though the win only moved Choco Mucho to a 2-4 record, tying them with Farm Fresh at eighth place, it injected new life into the recent All-Filipino runners-up as they strive to secure a spot in the knockout quarterfinals of the league organized by Sports Vision.
Meanwhile, Chery Tiggo fell to 4-2, sharing fifth place with idle Capital1.
“It was a great test. We’ve lost two five-set games in the first round, but this win showed our work ethic in practice. I’m so proud of my team,” said import Zoi Faki, who redeemed herself with 10 points, including three blocks.
Faki also provided strong support to libero Thang Ponce, contributing nine digs and eight excellent receptions in their two-hour, 19-minute victory.
After squandering a two-set lead, the Flying Titans regrouped in the fifth set, with Mendrez firing five of her total output to help Choco Mucho pull away from a tight 4-all count. Dindin Manabat then took over, delivering back-to-back powerful hits that brought the team to match point, 14-10.
Although Kath Bell attempted to rally Chery Tiggo with consecutive kills, Manabat sealed the deal with another crushing blow, ending the Crossovers’ resilient comeback attempt.
“Despite losing a two-set lead, our mindset was fixed on winning the game because we knew it wasn’t over yet,” said Mendrez in Filipino, who marked her comeback with two blocks and two aces. “We’re taking it one game at a time, staying focused.”
“I’m super thankful for the trust from the coaches and the support of my teammates, who were always behind me,” Mendrez added, fully embracing her role in the team’s resurgence.
Coach Dante Alinsunurin praised the team’s newfound confidence, saying, “I think the big factor is that they now believe in what we want to achieve. In our previous games, there was some doubt about whether we could overcome the challenges we faced.”
Alinsunurin made a strategic move by inserting Mean Mendrez into the starting lineup in place of Royse Tubino. Despite still recovering from a knee procedure, the former PLDT standout rose to the challenge and delivered an impressive performance.
Manabat finished with 17 points, while Maddie Madayag provided a strong defensive presence at the net with four blocks, contributing 11 points overall. Faki’s serves also disrupted Chery Tiggo’s reception, leading to several successful attacks from Choco Mucho.
The Flying Titans nearly squandered their two-set advantage after suffering narrow defeats in the third and fourth sets. However, the team rallied in the fifth, surging to a blazing 12-5 start, with Mendrez leading the charge to ultimately secure the victory over the Crossovers.
“Although, hindi (madali), talagang trinabaho din ng Chery Tiggo pero ngayon at least ngayon nakita namin na kahit papaano (kahit) na-down kami ng apat na talo pero lumalaban parin yung team kaya sobrang thankful ako sa naging performance namin,” said Alinsunurin.
Bell led all scorers with 25 points for Chery Tiggo, with Pauline Gaston adding 13 markers, including five kill blocks. Ara Galang and Mary Rhose Dapol chipped in with 10 and eight points, respectively, for the Crossovers, who struggled with consistency, particularly in the first two sets.
The Crossovers managed to rally in the third set, narrowly escaping a 22-23 deficit to force a fourth, where they dominated to push the match to a decisive fifth set.
However, Choco Mucho’s composure and key plays from Mendrez and Manabat in the final moments sealed the win.
