Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Kat Tolentino during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin is happy to see Kat Tolentino’s hard work in practice translate to her resurgence at the start of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

Tolentino unleashed a season-high 27 points including seven big blocks to deliver Choco Mucho’s first win, edging out Galeries Tower, 27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12, on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

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Alinsunurin said Tolentino has always been one of their most reliable players and that’s why he’s been turning to the star opposite spiker, who is regaining her top condition despite her auditory condition, so far in the PVL.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025

“Whenever Kat is in the lineup, I have complete trust in her. I was really saddened when she got sick, but I told her this is the time for her to come back and fully recover,” Alinsunurin said of Tolentino, who missed several games in the first conference and played sparingly in the Reinforced Conference due to health issues.

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For the Choco Mucho coach, there’s no doubt about the hard work the longtime Flying Titan has put in to regain her letahl form.

“I’m very thankful because even during every practice, I watch her and see what else she needs to work on. I even feel a bit embarrassed because of how hard she’s working despite recovering from an illness. Every time she’s on the court, she’s giving her all,” he said.

“In our last game, I made a mistake—I should have given her more playing time. Maybe we would’ve seen better results. But this is a long league, and it’s important that we stay healthy until the end.”

READ: PVL: Kat Tolentino stays patient, plays through auditory issues

Despite her explosive outing, Tolentino believes she is “still not where she wants to be.”

“There’s more that I can offer for the team. It is still a long conference, and I believe there is more to give, this is the beginning of the conference and I am still learning to get back and play in the actual game,” she said.

The former Ateneo star continues d embrace a bigger role as the lone Choco Mucho holdover from the 2019 team with Maddie Madayag playing in Japan.

“I think it’s just sticking to coach Dante’s blocking system, ever since, even last year that’s what I have been trying to work on. I have to stick to the process, and I think sticking to the system and trusting the team is what got us there,” said Tolentino.

“I guess since I’ve been here the longest, I think it’s about time to step up, and I have to also fill in that role. I am also one of the older girls, so I know that it’s not about playing, but it is also about leading the team and I am willing to take that and help everyone else, Sisi (Rondina).”