Choco Mucho leans on depth as Maddie Madayag set to miss early All-Filipino games

Choco Mucho’s 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference will begin with a familiar test—not of talent, but of resilience.

The Flying Titans are expected to open the conference without veteran middle blocker Maddie Madayag, with head coach Dante Alinsunurin confirming that the two-time PVL Best Middle Blocker will sit out “a few games” as she continues her recovery. Madayag’s absence was noticeable during the team’s recent training camp in Thailand, prompting questions about her availability heading into the season.

“Wala pa muna [si Maddie] ng ilang games. Nagre-recover pa siya,” Alinsunurin said on Wednesday, while assuring that Madayag is still expected to return later in the conference.

While Choco Mucho has yet to disclose a specific injury, the Flying Titans were cautious with Madayag late in the Reinforced Conference, when she dealt with minor knee swelling. Her minutes were closely managed during the preliminaries to avoid aggravating the issue—an approach that now appears to have extended into the early part of the All-Filipino tilt.

For Choco Mucho, navigating missing pieces has almost become part of its identity.

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MADAYAG STATUS UPDATE

Maddie Madayag will miss a ‘few games’ for Choco Mucho as she continues to recover from an undisclosed fitness issue, as per head coach Dante Alinsunurin.

He guaranteed Madayag’s participation in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference. #PVL2026 @spinph pic.twitter.com/WFZdjKb3eM

— John Mark Garcia (@johnmarkdg_) January 28, 2026

In recent seasons, the Flying Titans have had to juggle absences and limitations, from Kat Tolentino, Deanna Wong, and Dindin Santiago-Manabat dealing with fitness concerns to Sisi Rondina being pulled into Alas Pilipinas duties. Each conference demanded on-the-fly adjustments, often forcing the coaching staff to reshuffle rotations.

This time, however, Alinsunurin believes the team enters the challenge better prepared.

“Sobrang thankful ako sa binigay ng management na tao sa’kin na sinupportahan kami kung ano ‘yung nagiging problema namin every conference,” he said.

“At least may tatlong tao ako sa bawat position na ready talaga anytime na gamitin ko. Kung anuman ‘yung mangyari, may maipapalit ako.”

That sense of security stems from Choco Mucho’s offseason additions, highlighted by the arrival of Eya Laure, Caitlin Viray, Alina Bicar, and middle blocker Jaila Atienza—moves aimed at building insulation against early setbacks like Madayag’s absence.

Still, the Flying Titans will lean on a retooled frontline after parting ways with Aduke Ogunsanya and Cherry Nunag. Younger middle blockers Lorraine Pecaña and Jen Villegas, alongside newcomer Atienza, are now tasked with holding the fort at the net until Madayag is cleared to return.

That trio is expected to see immediate action when Choco Mucho opens its All-Filipino Conference campaign against Akari on January 31—likely without one of its most established pillars, but with renewed confidence in its depth.

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