CEBU CITY — Choco Mucho erased a 0-2 hole to stun Capital1, 22-25, 18-25, 25-17, 25-20, 15-8, on Saturday at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena. The reverse sweep electrified the opening day of the Premier Volleyball League’s 10th season.

The Flying Titans looked finished after dropping the first two sets. Instead, they turned a seemingly routine win for the Solar Spikers into a stirring show of resilience before a packed Cebu crowd.

Eya Laure Sparks Choco Mucho Reverse Sweep in PVL Opener

Eya Laure spearheaded the turnaround, delivering in the fourth set and the decider. A crosscourt hit sealed the fourth set and forced a fifth, where the former UST standout opened the scoring with a powerful hit after a long exchange.

Capital1 briefly pulled level at 1-1, but Choco Mucho uncorked a 7-2 run to take a five-point lead at the changeover. From there, the Flying Titans capitalized on the Solar Spikers’ errors while applying pressure at the net and from the back row.

Sisi Rondina-Rosales came up big with a series of powerful attacks and denied Cherry Nunag with a timely defensive play. She also turned a save by Dawn Catindig on a Bella Belen attack into another scoring chance to preserve the five-point cushion.

Laure followed with a back-row attack after Vanie Gandler misfired from the back, putting the Flying Titans at match point. Belen rejected Kat Tolentino to briefly extend the contest, but Pia Abbu committed a service error to seal the comeback.

Choco Mucho’s Healthy Roster Sends Message in PVL 10th Season

Laure finished with 22 points, 11 excellent digs and 15 receptions. She was named the first best player of the Siklab Series, the opening conference of the PVL’s three-conference season organized by Sports Vision.

Rondina-Rosales, who came off the bench in the opening set before joining the starting lineup in the second, finished with 12 points. Maddie Madayag added 11, Tolentino eight, Caitlin Viray six, and Lorene Toring and Jewel Encarnacion five apiece.

“We worked really hard for this win, and we knew we had to earn it,” Laure said in Filipino. “We kept reminding one another that we had each other’s backs. No matter what happened, we had to keep fighting and trust the process.”

The win offered a glimpse of what Choco Mucho could do with a healthy, complete roster after previous campaigns were disrupted by national team commitments and injuries to key players. Coach Dante Alinsunurin kept believing his players could turn the tide.

“We’re happy to be back in the PVL and to share what we’ve learned from playing with the national team, alongside Bella and Vanie,” Laure said. The national team mainstay also thanked the Cebuano fans for their energy.

Capital1 let a commanding start slip away. Erika Santos top-scored with 22 points, while Belen and Gandler added 15 each, but unsteady first-ball receptions hampered the Solar Spikers as Choco Mucho tightened its defense in the final three sets.

Choco Mucho held only a slim 66-65 edge in attacks but led in blocks, 12-9. Capital1 had the advantage in service aces, 5-2, but the Flying Titans were steadier in the clutch during the two-hour, 13-minute match.

“Grabe, sobrang warm ng welcome ng mga Cebuanos. Maraming-maraming salamat!” Laure exclaimed, her voice hoarse after an emotionally charged performance.