By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Choco Mucho setter Mars Alba claimed the Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of March 18 to 22 after another impressive showing in Game 2 of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals series against PLDT.
The 5-foot-6 playmaker came up with a crucial shot in the fifth frame as the Flying Titans beat the HD Spikers, 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13, Thursday enroute to the Final Four for the third straight time.
Alba’ shot broke a 13-all deadlock while Sisi Rondina scored the next point to wrap up the match after two hours and 29 minutes.
“For me, what I was thinking at that time was, I was just a backup. I was really just giving my all. I just didn’t expect it, but I was ready,” Alba, who finished with seven points along with 22 excellent sets, said.
“I didn’t expect Ate Deanna (Wong) to give me the ball, but I said, just lift it — I’ll take care of it. I’ll contribute whatever I can. I didn’t expect it either because I thought Ate Deanna and I were going to switch earlier, then she suddenly said, ‘no, you,’” the 25-year-old former La Salle star added.
Alba bested Rondina, Brooke Van Sickle of Petro Gazz, Bea de Leon of Creamline, Chai Troncoso of ZUS Coffee and Eli Soyud of Akari for the weekly honor of the competition streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and www.pvl.ph.
Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin praised Alba for stepping up under pressure.
“We were really talking about what else we should do. Until we saw that Mars (Alba) could hit, although she was training for it, she really hits,” Alinsunurin said.
“Her offense was so crucial that we won the game because we really wanted to get back to the semis.”
Choco Mucho, runner-up the past two All-Filipino Conferences, will kick off its semifinal round robin next week at Ynares Center Antipolo with defending champion Creamline and Akari. (PNA)
