The Choco Mucho Flying Titans. PVL Media Bureau

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Choco Mucho is the first team to enter the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference Semifinals.

This, as the Flying Titans completed a quarterfinal sweep of error-prone PLDT in Game 2, 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13, on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

After exchanging set wins in the first four frames, it all boiled down to a close fight in the decider.

Only a tie ballgame at 11-apiece, PLDT gave up two points to Choco Mucho through faults — a service error from Kim Fajardo and a reaching beyond violation courtesy of Kim Dy.

Back-to-back points from always-outstanding Savi Davison — a back row kill and a down-the-line spike — made it a tie game once more at 13-all.

Mars Alba, who was then playing with fellow setter Deanna Wong, turned to her spiking, clinching an off-speed hit to put Choco Mucho on the verge of winning.

"Sobrang saya ko kasi lahat kanina parang piga na talaga lahat. Pati si Mars [Alba] spiker na," said Choco Mucho captain Sisi Rondina during the postgame press conference.

And then it was Rondina who dealt the killing blow, putting the High Speed Hitters to sleep in the match which lasted two hours and 29 minutes.

"Hindi lang talaga kami tumigil. Sobrang proud ako sa team namin kasi lahat kayang mag-adjust," Rondina added.

Alba said she was always ready to deliver. She somehow did it all — from setting, digging, and spiking — by tallying 22 excellent sets, 11 excellent digs, and seven points on five attacks and two aces. 

"For me, 'yung iniisip ko nu'ng time na 'yun, back up lang talaga ako. Given na nasa harap talaga si ate [Sisi], talagang pumorsiyento lang ako. Hindi ko lang in-expect, pero ready ako," said Alba.

Rondina concluded the game with 21 points and 18 excellent receptions, while Royse Tubino chipped in 15 for the scoring.

PLDT star Davison's 34-point eruption was put to naught after the heartbreaking loss.

The High Speed Hitters notably won the attacking and blocking departments in the defeat, converting 72 spikes on 215 attempts and notching 12-of-96 block points. In comparison, the Flying Titans only had 54 attack points on 221 tries.

But that was offset as the High Speed Hitters gave 31 points to the Flying Titans through errors, while the latter only committed 16.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho completes epic reverse sweep vs PLDT, nears semis