Choco Mucho Flying Titans kept their composure with a come-from-behind five-set victory against PLDT High Speed Hitters in the quarterfinals of 2022 PVL Open Conference on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan, Manila.
The Flying Titans fought back hard after being down two sets and nearly losing their twice-to-beat advantage against a determined opponent. The scores: 25-21, 23-25, 29-31, 25-15, 15-11.
Kat Tolentino headed her team's solid effort with 19 points while Isa Molde, who played for PLDT last conference, made her own mark with 18 markers for the Oliver Almadro-mentored squad.
Choco Mucho was trailing PLDT in the first set by six points coming into the second technical timeout. But the Flying Titans leaned on their attacking brilliance in rising from their deficit to clinch the decisive set advantage.
PLDT outwitted Choco Mucho late in the second set with well-placed hits to equalize the match.
The contest became more intense in the third set with the two squads exchanging leads until the Flying Titans gained the upperhand, 24-21, with a Ponggay Gaston score on the left side.
But then the High Speed Hitters forced nine set points in the next possessions, with Dell Palomata scoring a decisive block point and Mika Reyes delivering the last two points off a spike and block to place them a set away from forcing a rubber match.
In the fourth set, Choco Mucho asserted their strength from powerful backrow hits to easily force a deciding fifth set, where they pulled away from a one-point lead to four down the stretch, benifiting from the High Speed Hitters' unforced errors and heroics from Molde and Deanna Wong.
A low shot by PLDT's Jules Samonte sealed the semifinals berth for Choco Mucho.
Chin Basas delivered with 16 points, while Palomata with 15 markers for the High Speed Hitters now relegated to the classification round.
Choco Mucho will face Creamline in a best-of-three semifinals starting on Friday.
