Import-less Choco Mucho stuns Cignal for 1st win; PLDT opens title bid with sweep of Capital1

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Choco Mucho bounces back from a first-set setback to beat Cignal even without import Anyse Smith, while PLDT begins its quest for a third straight PVL title with a sweep of Capital1

MANILA, Philippines – No import, no problem for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.

Despite missing American reinforcement Anyse Smith, Choco Mucho grabbed its first win of the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference at the expense of the Cignal Super Spikers, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 27-25, on Monday, October 13, at the Araneta Coliseum. 

The Flying Titans played without Smith to officially start the tournament as her papers were still pending before the game began.

Maddie Madayag led Choco Mucho with 18 points, including 6 blocks, while Isa Molde contributed 17 points, all on attacks. 

Des Cheng put up 14 points built on 12 attacks, while Kat Tolentino added 10 points to help steer the Flying Titans to a 1-0 start in Pool A. Their win over Capital1 last Tuesday, October 7, was voided as the PVL decided to replay the match due to the non-issuance of import clearance by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.

“We are getting used to these kinds of situations,” Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin said in Filipino.

“This is hard, but we will really work for the win. It just comes down to our mindset every game and believing that we can win every game we play.”

Vanie Gandler paced Cignal with 15 points as reinforcement Eva Chantava struggled in her PVL debut with just 10 points.

The match had looked to be on its way to a deciding set with Cignal holding a 23-21 lead in the fourth before Choco Mucho caught fire with a 6-2 finishing run, punctuated by Dindin Santiago-Manabat’s attack and Madayag’s ace. 

Earlier, PLDT opened its bid for a third straight title on a high note as the High Speed Hitters swept the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 25-22, 25-20, 25-23.

Savi Davison led PLDT with 22 points off 15 attacks and 7 blocks, while import Anastasia Bavykina supplied 15 points, including 10 attacks, in her debut for the High Speed Hitters, who continued their winning ways after ruling the On Tour and the Invitational Conference. 

“[Bavykina] is filling in our shortcomings,” PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort said in Filipino. “She is playing a support role for us…. Hopefully, in our next games, we get to jell more.”

For Davison, Bavykina’s addition boosts PLDT’s chances of improving even more as the tournament continues.

“Obviously, she is really good. She is great at doing her job in our team. Hopefully, she could excel in her role as she plays on,” Davison said.

Kim Dy added 10 points for the High Speed Hitters.

Meanwhile, top rookie Bella Belen had 13 points in her official PVL debut for Capital1, which leaned on import Oleksandra Bytsenko (20 points).

Boasting of a taller frontline, PLDT dominated the blocking department, 16-4, with Davison tallying 7. 

Trailing for most of the first two sets, the Solar Spikers jumped to a 17-15 lead in the third set before PLDT’s net defense stifled Capital1’s late rally en route to the straight-sets win. 

Late in the final set, Capital1 libero Roma Doromal was stretchered off the court following muscle cramps.

Leila Cruz added 9 points, while no other Solar Spiker scored more than 3 points in the loss. – Rappler.com