MANILA – Choco Mucho Flying Titans charged back from 1-2 set down to score a 25-21, 23-25, 29-31, 25-15, 15-11 decision over PLDT High Speed Hitters in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference quarterfinals last night at the San Juan Arena.
Kat Tolentino spearheaded the offense with 19 points. Maria Lina Molde added 18 markers as the Flying Titans entered the best-of-three semifinals and will face Cignal HD Spikers.
Ilongga Aduke Ogunsanya stepped up to fire 12 hits, while Bea de Leon, Pauline Gaston, Desiree Cheng and Caitlyn Viray combined for 24 points for the Flying Titans.
The Flying Titans, behind Ogunsanya, Molde and De Leon, foiled three PLDT attacks followed by a powerful attack from Tolentino for a 14-9 lead in the fifth set.
The High Speed Hitters stayed alive with back-to-back conversions from Toni Rose Basas but an error by Julia Samonte ended the match in favor of Flying Titans.
“We did expect PLDT to play as hard as it could. Good thing, we have the twice-to-beat advantage. But we didn’t think about it,” said Flying Titans head coach Oliver Almadro.
“It was a test of character when we lost 2 sets. I think we really had built on that…we built on chemistry, we built on heart and we trusted one another to perform at different times,” added Tolentino.
Basas topscored with 16 points, Aklanon Dell Palomata finished with 15 hits, while Ilongga Fiola Ceballos and Samonte chipping in 12 and 11 points, respectively, for PLDT.
Petro Gazz Angels, meanwhile, completed the PVL semifinals casts after hacking out a 25-14, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19 stunner over many-time Philippine Superliga champions F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Gretchel Soltones, Myla Pablo and Ilongga Aiza Maizo-Pontillas made their presence felt in the last two sets as the Angels forge a semifinals battle with Creamline Cool Smashers./PN
