Coach of loaded Choco Mucho team stresses need for players to know their roles

MANILA, Philippines — The stacked lineup of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans for the upcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season can raise a number of questions about being able to utilize all the talent of its players.

With the likes of returnees Bea de Leon, Kat Tolentino and Ponggay Gaston expected to share playing time with new signees like Des Cheng, Isa Molde and Aduke Ogunsanya, it might prove to be a tall task to reach the full potential of all players on their roster.

But Flying Titans coach Oliver Almadro revealed his strategy in making sure he and all the players get the most out of their time on the court.

The key to everything? Getting to tell the players their role in the team.

"You know, this is the professional league and I know the players would understand their roles. Ako, ang style ko kasi, one by one I really talk to them and tell them what's their role," Almadro told Philstar.com in an interview.

"Like Aduke, [I told her] eto ang kailangan ko sayo, this is what I want that's why I got you. Si Des at si Isa, di ko pa sila nakakausap nang sobrang tagal... [But] you know, I've been telling the management how I will be utilizing the players to their maximum potential," he added.

Almadro also said that he wanted to do away with the idea that his team was stacked with superstars.

Rather than zeroing in on the individual talent, the decorated volleyball coach said that he wanted people to focus on the sheer determination of his players to get better.

"Lagi sinasabi sa messages and everything, sa mga text sa mga social media, sinasabi nila na Choco Mucho now is fire power. No. I'm saying the team is not a team of superstars," Almadro said.

"It's a team of players that wants to do more and players that want to grow more, [who] want to show what's their worth. Hindi ko masasabing, ah superstar kami, ang masasabi ko ang mga players ko, they have that character, they have that personality that the team needs," he added.

The Flying Titans are currently in quarantine as they prepare for training ahead of the new PVL season set to unfurl next month.

With the revamped lineup, the team is aiming to improve their result after missing out on the podium last year.