IN an all-Filipino affair, Team Choco Mucho prevailed over the young Team Rebisco in the 2021 Asian Volleyball Cup (AVC) on Wednesday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Choco Mucho dropped Rebisco in four sets, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, and 25-17 in the classification match for the two Filipino teams.
Both teams are winless in their first two games, Rebisco now dropped to the 7th place while Choco Mucho will advance in their next game to battle for the 5th place against Kazakhstan club Zhetysu.
The 2021 AVC marks the first international exposure of the national teams since the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
As expected the teams were evenly matched to start the game as the 4-set win of Team Choco Mucho displayed a very tight match.
It was the offense of the Hawaiian-Filipino Kalei Mau who led Team Choco Mucho in their first win at the tournament.
The open hitter powered through 20 points giving her team a much needed win at the expense of their sister team.
Helping Mau with the offense were Marjana Phillips and Mylene Paat.
Phillips fired 13 markers while Paat added 11.
Ria Meneses and Del Palomata had the net on lock with a combined 18 points, seven coming from blocks.
On the Rebisco side, even with their strength in number as they paraded a 14-player lineup, displayed their lack of exposure to the international stage.
Their young team included Imee Hernandez, Mhicaela Belen, Bernadett Pepito, Jen Nierva, Faith Nisperos, Kamille Cal, and Ivy Lacsina which are all on the collegiate level.
The veterans in their team are Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Aby Marano, Rhea Dimaculangan, Kim Kianna Dy, and Majoy Baron.
Choco Mucho will try to rank as high as the 5th spot with a win today against Kazakhstan club Zhetysu at 1:30 p.m.
The tournament stakes the champion a berth to the FIVB World Women’s Club Volleyball Championships in Ankara, Turkey in December.
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