Seven years after sharing the court as Tigresses for University of Santo Tomas, the core of the UAAP Season 81 silver medal team is carrying that familiar bond again hunting for an elusive title, this time as professionals in the PVL with Choco Mucho.
Eya Laure, Sisi Rondina-Rosales, Caitlin Viray and Alina Bicar are spearheading the Flying Titans to a promising start in the PVL All-Filipino Conference Siklab Series, with their reunion good for a 3-1 record that has made Choco Mucho one of the early contenders.
Laure and Rondina-Rosales are leading the way, but Viray and setter Bicar were big as the Flying Titans overpowered winless Galeries Tower, 21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15, that had Choco Mucho bouncing back from their first loss on Tuesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
With an opportunity to pursue unfinished business together, Viray believes their longtime bond is Choco Mucho’s biggest advantage.
‘Having spent so much time together at UST is a big advantage because we already know each other’s personalities,’ said Viray in Filipino after she dropped 11 points, plugging a hole created by the absence of Kat Tolentino.
Viray played for Choco Mucho in 2023 to 2024 before spending the next two years at Farm Fresh. Returning home this year, and with the blockbuster signing of Laure and Bicar to start year 2026, created the reunion for the Santo Tomas quartet.
‘Adjusting was probably easier. Of course, I had to find my footing again at first because I was away [from the team] for two years,’ Viray added. ‘But I was able to pick up. It helped a lot that I was already familiar with Coach’s system.’
Bicar, meanwhile, believes that they already have the team connection needed-not just with their former UST teammates, but also with their former UAAP finals tormentors from Ateneo like Maddie Madayag, Tolentino and Deanna Wong.
‘We’re also thankful that everyone has been able to adapt to one another,’ said Bicar in Filipino.
Coach Dante Alinsunurin praised the duo of Viray and Bicar for stepping up this conference, especially Bicar, who was big in their first three wins.
‘I think our offensive dynamics have changed with her on the court,’ said Alinsunurin, who also lauded the impact of new signings Lorene Toring and Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
‘When she joined us, we saw that she could fill our need in the middle,’ Alinsunurin said of Toring. ‘I saw in her exactly what I want[ed] from a middle blocker. From the first day we met, I already told the team that we had hit the jackpot with her, so I’m very thankful.’
Alinsunurin also has high praises for his libero.