MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho notched its first win in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference after prevailing in a hard-fought five-setter against Galeries Tower, 29-27, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12, on Thursday, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.The Flying Titans banked on Kat Tolentino's 27-point effort (20 attacks and seven blocks) and 10 excellent digs.With the match tied at two sets apiece, Galeries kept up with Choco Mucho's pace early in the final set at 4-4 as Royse Tubino and Grazielle Bombita exchanged blows.But Sisi Rondina slammed a crosscourt hit, and Chery Nunag recovered from her attack error to give Choco Mucho a slim two-point lead, 7-5.The Flying Titans meticulously kept their opponents at bay and led as much by four points down the stretch as rookie Lorraine Pecaña defended the net well for an 11-7 count.Galeries Tower, however, pulled a 3-0 run courtesy of Ysa Jimenez's kills but Pecaña read the attack of Jimenez and blocked her shot to stop the Galeries momentum for a 12-10 Choco Mucho lead.Des Cheng scored her sole point in the match with a service ace for Choco Mucho but Jimenez answered with a through-the-block hit.Rondina then soared high and scored a crosscourt hit on which Julia Coronel answered back with a crosscourt of her own to keep the Galeries alive, 12-14.Rondina finally ended the match after hammering a loaded shot for a 15-12 win.'This can give more confidence to us since we haven't won in a game in a while [since the Reinforced Conference]. We are grateful that we took the win today,' Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin said.Rondina scored 19 points, while Nunag and Pecaña added 14 and 10 points, respectively for the winning team.Galeries Tower was led by Jewel Encarnacion who scored 18 points. Jimenez and Coronel added 13 and 10 points, respectively.Choco Mucho now has a 1-1 win-loss card, while Galeries Tower dropped to 0-2.
