As health issues mount, Choco Mucho looks for wealth in 2nd PVL rookie draft

MANILA, Philippines – After running out of steam in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference playoffs, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans are back to the drawing board with hopes to add firepower through the league’s second rookie draft on June 7.

The two-time All-Filipino silver medalists are expected to select its first player at eighth out of 12 teams in the opening round.

In the inaugural draft last year, Choco Mucho only picked in the first round — middle blocker Lorraine Pecaña from Arellano — as 11th overall, and immediately forfeited its succeeding chances from the second round onwards.

“We never really expected (the slew of injuries) since as we needed players during crucial games, somebody got injured,” Flying Titans head coach Dante Alinsunurin said in an interview a day after the loss.

“We will lean on a mindset that every time we are short-staffed, other players must step up, and we must not rely on just six or seven players,” he added.

Bitten by the injury bug, the team was not able to have Kat Tolentino (appendectomy recovery), and Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Maika Ortiz (leg injuries), forcing Alinsunurin to rely on a smaller pool of players out of position during the three-game bronze medal series against Akari.

Even former La Salle standouts Des Cheng and Aduke Ogunsanya, though already seeing action, have not retrurned to extended minutes since recovering from their respective ACL tears.

That is why the amiable mentor is adamant that the team find additional opposite hitters in the upcoming selection process.

With fans being able to take advantage of the separate ticket situation during Saturday’s twin billing, Alinsunurin expressed awe of the purple-colored fandom’s attendance at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

“In those kinds of situations, we really choose to win, but unfortunately we lost a chance to put in other people that might step up,” he said. “We performed our best, but Akari was better, we saw how they played solidly, and never let us get a crack at coming back into the game.”

PVL sets draft rules; Nxled takes crack at top pick

The league will formally start accepting applicants, requiring them to fill out the application form at http://pvl.ph/draft and email additional required documents to draft@pvl.ph.

The application window will close on May 23, with the final list of applicants to be announced on June 4.

An applicant must be female at birth, a collegiate graduate, and be at least 21 years old on or before December 31, 2025.

Filipino-foreign applicants must also secure a Philippine passport or a receipt indicating the passport’s release before the May 23 deadline.

During the May 26 draft lottery, Nxled will enjoy a 40% chance of nabbing top selection, Capital 1 at 30%, Farm Fresh 20%, and Galeries Tower at 10%.

Meanwhile, ZUS Coffee will pick fifth, then Cignal, Chery Tiggo, Choco Mucho, PLDT, Akari, Petro Gazz, and Creamline.

The draft combine, where different skills, athletic ability, and playability are measured, is set from May 30 to June 1. – Rappler.com