CHOCO PRIMED FOR BREAKTHROUGH TITLE?

MANILA, Philippines — Much has been said about the Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ meteoric rise from a fledgling franchise eyeing a place in the sun five years ago to a legitimate title contender now.

For team captain Maddie Madayag, their driving force has always been hunger.

“Gutom na gutom kami, we’re very hungry to get the gold,” said the lion-hearted 26-year-old middleblocker moments after the Flying Titans’ sweep of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference semis capped by a finals-clinching  23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-20 win over Petro Gazz.

“We’ve come a long way. Five years ago kaka-start ng Choco Mucho, I was there, and now I still can’t believe andito na kami,” she also said.

Madayag hopes that their cravings would fuel a run to achieve what they have long been longing for – a glorious PVL championship.

“Sobra happy na very confident maglaro ang team namin, dati nagugulat pa kami. We’re just very happy and grateful dinala ulet kami dito for another chance to get the championship,” said Madayag.

“You can see it in their eyes, gusto talaga nila manalo and we want more,” she added.

But to be the best, the Flying Titans must beat the best – the Creamline Cool Smashers – in what is expected to be another epic finale predicted to draw record attendance and gate receipts.

Game One is set Thursday and Game Two Sunday while a deciding Game Three, if necessary, is Tuesday, all at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Unlike before, Choco Mucho would come in as the prohibitive favorite having finished better in the elimination round with a 9-2 record for the No. 2 seeding then scoring the semis sweep.

2024-05-06T16:43:43Z dg43tfdfdgfd