Despite playing with an all-Filipino lineup in the absence of import Anyse Smith, Choco Mucho showed heart and composure in turning back Cignal, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 27-25, to open its 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference campaign with a hard-fought win on Monday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Flying Titans drew huge performances from their local standouts, led by Maddie Madayag and Isa Molde, to overcome the Super Spikers after dropping the opening set and secure their first win in Pool A of the tournament organized by Sports Vision.

Madayag, who delivered three of the team’s last five points—including the game-winning ace—spearheaded the victory with a game-high 18 points built on 11 attacks, six kill blocks, and one ace. Molde provided steady support with an all-around outing of 17 points, all from attacks, along with 13 excellent digs, as Choco Mucho replicated its strong showing from last week’s scrapped opener.

“I just did my job. Trabaho ko lang ‘yung finofocus ko rin, but at the same time I wouldn’t be able to do it without my teammates. I think we struggled a bit about sa mga ball controls, pero naayos naman namin until the end,” said the 5-foot-11 middle blocker.

The Flying Titans actually won their supposed debut match against Capital1 last Tuesday, but after both teams played without their imports due to pending International Transfer Certificates (ITCs), the league decided to nullify the results of that day.

Unfortunately, the 6-foot-1 American outside hitter Smith also missed Monday’s match as her documents are still being processed, forcing Choco Mucho to rely solely on its local core to kick off its campaign.

Cignal threatened to extend the match to a deciding fifth set after Vanie Gandler and Rose Doria-Aquino anchored a 3-0 run that turned a 20-21 deficit into a 23-21 lead late in the fourth frame.

Royse Tubino stopped the surge with a smart push, before Madayag took over—scoring on back-to-back plays, including a towering block on Gandler—to cap a 3-0 counter that swung the momentum back to Choco Mucho, 24-23.

Tubino’s attack went long to send the set into deuce, but Dindin Santiago-Manabat fired a powerful cross-court kill to reclaim the lead. Heather Guino-o tied things up once more at 25, but the Rebisco-backed squad would not be denied.

Santiago-Manabat broke through the block, and Madayag sealed the deal with a booming service ace to close out Choco Mucho’s gritty win—achieved without the presence of their reinforcement.

“Siguro ‘yung mindset lang talaga namin, dahil may mga time talaga na may mga challenges kami na kailangan namin magtulungan. Kita naman sa game kanina — sa depensa namin, sa opensa namin — kita naman talaga na nagtulungan. Kaya ayun, nakuha namin ‘yung panalo,” said Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin.

Team captain Des Cheng added 14 points built on 12 attacks and two aces, along with 12 excellent receptions, while Kat Tolentino chipped in 10 points, including two blocks.

Libero Thang Ponce anchored the defense with 32 excellent digs and 20 excellent receptions, while playmaker Deanna Wong orchestrated the offense with 25 excellent sets.

The Flying Titans will face a tough challenge next as they battle reigning PVL on Tour and Invitational Conference champion PLDT on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., still at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Cignal struggled to find its rhythm for most of the match, and it did not help that Greek import Eva Chantava was limited to just 10 points, converting only nine of her 39 attack attempts.

Gandler led the way for the error-plagued Super Spikers, who committed 28 miscues, finishing with 15 points and 12 excellent digs. Guino-o and Erin Pangilinan added nine and eight points, respectively, in the losing effort.

Cignal looks to bounce back when it faces Farm Fresh also on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.