By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin promised they are leaving no stone unturned on Sunday, May 12, to keep their championship dream alive in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
The Flying Titans showed promise in their Game 1 tussle against defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers, but failed to sustain their strong starts as they yielded 24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 25-16, on Thursday, May 9, before a huge crowd.
“Nagkulang kami sa end game,” Alinsunurin admitted.
“Nakita naman every set, hindi kami yung naghahabol, pero nung naka-establish na kami ng lamang, dun kami nagkaproblema. Yun yung mga natutunan namin: dapat pagdating sa huli, ituluy-tuloy namin yung momentum namin para hindi makakuha ng momentum yung Creamline,” he added.
Creamline’s wide experience, indeed, became evident in that match particularly in critical moments where the Cool Smashers turned things around by pouncing on Choco Mucho’s defense with attacks on all angles.
The Cool Smashers also relied heavily on their deep bench, with coach Sherwin Meneses maximizing his lineup to compensate for their errors.
“Lamang talaga yung Creamline dun. Every time may magkamali sa kanila, meron silang mahuhugot,” Alinsunurin said.
Alinsunurin said they are puttimg that lost battle behind to concentrate on the upcoming match to breathe life to their title aspirations.
They were in the same situation last December in the Second All-Filipino Conference, but they failed to rise to the occasion as Creamline swept the series for the title.
Alinsunurin hoped they would write a different narrative this time.
“Syempre nanghihinayang kami sa nangyari, pero sabi ko sa kanila, kung ano man yung nangyari ngayon, iwanan na namin sa dugout. Kasi mahirap bumangon sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kami yung challenger dito, yung Creamline yung defending (champion),” Alinsunurin said.
“Imporante kinabukasan magtrabaho ulit kami. Pag-usapan yung mga adjustments na kailangan para masolusyunan namin yung mga pagkukulang namin lalo na sa end game,” he added.
