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

MANILA, Philippines — Lorraine Pecaña proved that she can rise to the occasion for Choco Mucho sans captain Maddie Madayag as the rookie played her best game yet, hitting seven blocks in their first win in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

Pecaña connived with Kat Tolentino’s 27-point explosion as the towering pair combined for 14 of the team’s 22 blocks to deny Galeries Tower’s gallant stand and escape with a  27-29, 25-20, 25-19, 17-25, 15-12 conquest on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

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The lone pick of Choco Mucho in the first-ever Rookie Draft drilled three crucial blocks in the fifth set to help her team bounce back from the opening-day loss to Petro Gazz and improve to a 1-1 record. 

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025

“I just listened to my coaches because they already knew who would be getting the ball, and I trusted myself that when they hit it, I’d be able to get the ball and block them,” said Pecaña after the two-hour and 37-minute marathon.

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“I just stayed strong. I knew it was going to a fifth set, so I had to show even more strength—stronger than in the fourth set, where one mistake had me really down,” she added.

The Arellano product has big shoes to fill with Madayag playing in the Japan SV.League. But she vows not to waste the trust and opportunity given to her by coach Dante Alinsunurin.

READ: PVL: Alinsunurin impressed with Choco Mucho pick Lorraine Pecaña

“Coach Dante gave me a big role with this position in the starting six. As a rookie, he already trusts me, so I also need to trust myself as much as my teammates trust me,” said the No. 11 overall pick. “My confidence and determination in daily training—that’s what I need to bring into every game.”

Alinsunurin is pleased with the progress of their lone rookie, who hardly saw action in the Reinforced Conference.

“His hard work really shows; even after training, he still puts in extra effort at school. I hope he keeps doing what he’s doing,” said Alinsunurin. “Although there’s still a long way to go, he should stay humble in situations like this because he’s sure to go even further and deliver even more great performances.”

Although they still have a lot to improve, Alinsunurin lauded his team’s solid blocking, which he wants to be their strength this season.

“We’re achieving what we want in terms of blocking. There are still some areas we need to improve, but as I told my players, our strength will really be our blocking,” he said.