Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Kat Tolentino during the PVL All-Filipino Conference opener. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – Playing through a hearing impairment didn’t stop Kat Tolentino from making an impact despite losing to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Tolentino showed her lethal attacking form with 12 points in three sets, but Choco Mucho lost to Petro Gazz 20-25, 28-26, 21-25, 16-25 in both teams’ opening match at Philsports Arena on Saturday.
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“I know I can give more. I think this is just the beginning at the moment. It’s not enough for the team. I know I have to contribute both offensively and defensively, and I think I have a lot more to offer this season,” said Tolentino, who had 10 kills and two blocks.
“My fitness is improving and I feel much more confident. Of course it’s just different in a game, in the situation with the crowd, with the environment, and maybe I have to get used to it and get used to it because I haven’t played properly for a while like I used to, so I am “I’m also patient with myself and I also need to get the support of my teammates, which is good,” she added.
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Kat Tolentino in action during the Choco Mucho Flying Titans game against Petro Gazz Angels in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The former Ateneo star revealed to reporters that she has not fully recovered her hearing in her left ear in the past nine months, as she was out of action due to a hearing impairment throughout the first conference this year and at Reinforced last July was set.
“It’s different because I’m deaf in my left ear so all the sounds come from my right side so it’s quite different. It’s different as a person in the arena too, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I just have to adapt and understand that this is the state I’m in, so I have to get used to it,” Tolentino said.
READ: PVL: Kat Tolentino attributes Choco Mucho’s unbeaten start to coach’s system
“And so far everything has been fine, it’s just very loud on my right side. But otherwise my team really supported me and I’m grateful for that.”
“According to the ENT doctor, it hasn’t really come back and it’s been almost 9 months. Hopefully it’s not permanent. Hopefully it will come back. But right now I just can’t hear as much on my left side.”
Despite the loss, Tolentino, the remaining original member of Choco Mucho, was pleased with the team’s growth despite the absence of his long-time teammate and captain Maddie Madayag, who is currently playing in the Japan SV.League.
Kat Tolentino on Missing Maddie Madayag and Playing Through Her Condition. #PVL2025 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/zszJrBr2cD
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 9, 2024
“I have been with Choco Mucho since the beginning. I’ve seen it unfold and I know that somehow we have to fail or lose to win. That’s why I experienced many Choco Muchos where we lost. I don’t doubt the team or anything. I know we can recover from this and I know it’s a process and Choco Mucho has come so far since I started, so I’m just going to keep working hard,” said Tolentino, who was there in the franchise’s league debut earlier this year 2019.
The star forward admitted that she misses Madayag, her teammate since college, but is proud that her other teammates are joining in with Sisi Rondina at the front of the team and Cherry Nunag and Lorraine Pecaña in the middle.
“I’m so used to playing with her as a center forward, but I’m also used to playing with the other girls, so it’s nice to see our rookie Lorraine step up and fill her position. “I’m grateful that she performed well today and of course I miss her and I’m happy that my other teammates were able to perform,” she said.
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Choco Mucho and Galeries will fight for their first win on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan City, while Tolentino remains optimistic for the six-month tournament.
“I think we just have to adapt. It’s the first game, so we can’t lose hope or feel like this is how the conference will go. I mean, it’s good to have it at the beginning so we can learn from it and fix what we need to fix,” Tolentino said.