Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin gave Alina Bicar her due, with the setter spelling the difference in the Flying Titans’ 3-1 start in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Conference.
It’s been years since the Flying Titans started this strong in a conference, and Bicar is one of the new players on the roster who has been making an impact on the bid to return to their PVL finals appearance since 2024.
‘I’m really thankful for Alina because, as a coach and a setter, we need to have a good connection,’ said Alinsunurin after Choco Mucho took down the winless Galeries Tower, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15 victory over Galeries Tower on Tuesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
‘I’m grateful for how she responds to me and embraces the challenges I give her. I think she could bring something new to Choco Mucho’s system whenever she’s on the court.’
Bicar delivered 17 excellent sets to set the pace for the Flying Titans’ balanced attack, led by her former University of Santo Tomas teammates Eya Laure, Sisi Rondina-Rosales, and Caitlin Viray.
The veteran playmaker said the team’s successful start has been anchored on trust.
‘It really comes down to trust in the coaches and in the system because they see what’s happening on the court and in training,’ said Bicar in Filipino. ‘I also want to commend my teammates because whoever gets put on the court, everyone is there to help one another. We just keep fighting.’
Bicar also attributed her solid showing to her fellow setters Deanna Wong, Ivy Perez, and rookie Tin Ubaldo, who are all bringing out the best in them during training.
‘It’s not difficult because, as setters, we all help one another. There’s healthy competition among us, and we cheer for whoever gets the chance to play,’ she said. ‘The veterans and the coaches know that we accept whoever they decide to put on the court because they have a plan for each player.’
Bicar is eager to continue embracing her bigger role this conference for Choco Mucho, which has a week before taking on unbeaten leader Nxled at Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday.