Choco Mucho outplayed Cignal, 25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22, Wednesday to take Game 1 of their best-of-three battle for third place in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Des Cheng delivered a booming kill to send the Flying Titans at matchpoint before Ponggay Gaston sealed the victory with an off-the-block hit.
Kat Tolentino exploded with another fiery performance, finishing with 23 points on 19 kills, three blocks and one ace as Choco Mucho seeks a sweep of the series to clinch the bronze medal on Friday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
After taking the first two sets, the Flying Titans lost their steam as the HD Spiker controlled the tempo in the third frame.
Choco Mucho tied the game at 16-all, but a service error from Des Cheng sparked Cignal’s assault by scoring three straight points en route to the set victory.
But the HD Spikers failed to capitalize on that set win as the Flying Titans regained their composure in the fourth with Deanna Wong converting plays on all angles for their spikers.
Bea De Leon also stepped up for Choco Mucho with 11 points, while Cheng chipped in 10 points including nine from the attack line.
Cignal, which was playing its third game in four days after losing the semis series to Petro Gazz, appeared weary in the crunch despite the efforts of Rachel Daquis, Ces Molina, Roselyn Doria and Klarisa Abriam.
Doria and Molina finished with 12 and 11 points while Daquis and Abriam had 10 points apiece in a losing effort.
