Rondina soars as Flying Titans down HD Spikers, force ‘rubber’

This time, there was no blowing a commanding lead for Choco Mucho.

The Flying Titans’ redemption was nothing short of spectacular as they bounced back from a disappointing Game One finish to fashion out a big 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 victory over the Cignal HD Spikers before a roaring Saturday crowd at the PhilSports Arena.

The win did not only level the best-of-three semifinal series but also set the stage for a riveting rubber match for the other finals berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.

Diminutive Sisi Rondina stood tall again as she spearheaded another Choco Mucho onslaught, exploding for 23 points, including three straight hits that gave the Flying Titans a 21-18 cushion in the third set before Kat Tolentino took over in rotation to deliver the killer blows for a 24-19 lead.

“Ang mindset talaga namin makabawi kami sa pagkatalo nung Game One. More on nag-deliver yung mga players talaga. Nag-trabaho talaga sila mula first point hanggang matapos yung game. May mga konting struggle kami pero nakapag-adjust agad kami and thankful na nakuha namin yung Game Two,” said Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin.

The HD Spikers, who snapped the Flying Titans’ 10-game streak in the elims with a stirring come-from-behind 18-25, 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 15-10 victory in Game One last Thursday, tried to spark another rally as they saved three match points on a Jove Gonzaga hit and back-to-back Choco Mucho net violations.

Gonzaga, however, cracked under pressure and hit a serve that sailed long, abruptly ending their comeback and enabling the Flying Titans to live another day to the cheers of the adoring Choco Mucho fans.

They will dispute the coveted finals slot on Tuesday, also at the Pasig arena.

“We came into the match with a winning mindset. Gyera ‘to, kaya dapat manalo,” said Rondina, who matched her remarkable leaping ability with precision. “And we did our best.”

“Personally, may disadvantage talaga ako sa height. But I did what I was supposed to do. Hanggang nasa taas ang bola, ipupuntos ko,” said the former UST and beach volley standout, who also finished with eight excellent receptions.

Tolentino also shone with 15 points, the last two converted on a Riri Meneses’ seemingly ill-advised push on the second ball and a power kill off Deanna Wong’s reverse set.

“It was a team effort. We couldn’t have done it without everyone saying positive (things). My teammates’ always encouraging me and I think that’s the biggest takeaway from me. I never felt like I was alone,” said Tolentino. “If I made an error there’s always five other girls there supporting me. It’s really a team effort because at the end of the day, they are the ones that lift you up, they are the ones who you’re playing with, and I think it also came down to heart.”

Isa Molde and Maddie Madayat finished with eight points apiece while Nunag added three points for the Flying Titans, who barely edged the HD Spikers in attacks, 48-41, and in aces, 5-4.

Cignal, however, produced more blocks, 9-6.

Wong and Caitlyn Viray scored one point each with the former posting 15 excellent receptions, two better than counterpart Gel Cayuna.

Gonzaga topscored for Cignal with 13 points while Molina and Meneses finished with 11 markers each and Roselyn Doria added eight points. But Vanie Gandler, who poured in 17 points in the series’ opener, struggled for just five markers, unable to break into the Flying Titans’ solid net defense.

Gandler only had one point in the first set and was held scoreless in the second.

While the first two frames were marked by nerve-wracking finishes with Rondina’s well-timed drop ball in the first thwarting the HD Spikers’ attempted comeback. Her thunderous crosscourt hits in the second also not only wrested control from a 10-13 deficit but also set for their own fightback.

The third frame, on the other hand, featured 14 deadlocks, the last at 18 on a Tolentino kill.

Then Rondina dropped three striaght power blasts, the last ending a long exchange before a Nunag dump gave Choco Mucho a commanding 22-18 lead.