Ateneo’s ‘triple tower’ out to lead Choco Mucho in PVL
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2019 09:04:50 +0000
With Ateneo’s triple tower at the helm, it won’t be much of a tall order for Choco Mucho when it makes its debut in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference firing off Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.
Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag and Kat Tolentino, who helped anchor the Lady Eagles’ title romp in the last UAAP season, hope to bring their game to a higher level as they mix it up with the sport’s leading players, including former fellow Ateneo stalwart Alyssa Valdez and former La Salle ace Michele Gumabao of Creamline, Cherry Nunag and Jeanette Panaga of PetroGazz and veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga and Royse Tubino of PacificTown Army.
Ateneo’s Kat Tolentino. (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)
The young squad, a sister team of Creamline, was formed just a month ago in time for the centerpiece all-Filipino conference of the league organized by Sports Vision but the 14-player squad has already developed chemistry in time for its first game against BaliPure on Wednesday.
“It’s actually a combination of young and veteran players so it’s going to be a mix of leadership,” said de Leon.
Manilla Santos-Ng, another former La Salle ace making a comeback after a decade of hiatus, is also in the Flying Titans’ roster along with Cindy Imbo, Carla Sandoval, Gyra Barroga, Diane Ticar, Miren Gequillana and Mary Grace Berte.
“We’re so excited for the Choco Mucho. I think our management (Rebisco) wanted to form a competitive team with the Ateneo players,” said Valdez. “So it will be challenge for us to keep up.”
But Choco Mucho won’t be the only team seeking to make an early impression and impact in the league backed by Mikasa, Asics and KFC with fellow newcomer Chef’s Classics and comebacking Air Force also vowing to put up a strong campaign.
Nine teams gear up for a spirited battle for top honors with PetroGazz eyeing a second straight championship after dethroning Creamline in the recent Reinforced Conference, PacificTown Army seeking to improve on its third place effort, BanKo-Perlas setting out for redemption along with BaliPure and Motolite upbeat of its chances with Myla Pablo back in top shape.
Air Force, a league regular but which skipped the first conference this year, kicks off its campaign against defending champion Creamline at 4 p.m. on Sunday while PetroGazz and BanKo-Perlas squaring off in the 6 p.m. main game of an explosive twinbill.