Tia Andaya savored her much-awaited PVL debut with Choco Mucho, helping the team secure a gritty four-set victory against Cignal in the Reinforced Conference.
Tia Andaya’s first taste of PVL action may have taken longer than expected, but the wait was well worth it.
The Fil-Am setter officially made her PVL debut with the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Monday, October 13, helping her squad secure a four-set victory over the Cignal Super Spikers, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 27-25, in the 2025 Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Worth the wait
After months of anticipation, Andaya couldn’t hide her excitement as she finally stepped onto the taraflex for her first professional game.
“Oh my gosh, it was a long time coming. I feel like I’ve been waiting for forever, but it totally paid off. It was worth the wait. It was a great team win,” the 7th overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft shared.
[ALSO READ: Tia Andaya embraces playing for PVL fan favorite Choco Mucho: ‘It’s going to be super fun’]
Andaya’s debut also came under less-than-ideal circumstances, with import Marlee Smith ruled out shortly before the match due to clearance issues.
But the 24-year-old was impressed with how her teammates stepped up in her absence.
“I think we have a very well-rounded, well-balanced team where, even though it was unfortunate Marlee couldn’t play, we have other great hitters who stepped up to the plate and really carried the load,” Andaya said.
Adjusting to a new system
The former Washington State standout also reflected on her ongoing adjustment to the Philippine style of volleyball — a process she describes as challenging yet exciting.
“The hardest part? Well, this being the first game, I’m like, I don’t really know. Just probably the style of volleyball. It’s very different,” she admitted. “Different hitters, everybody hits a little different, everybody has a different skill set, so just adapting to that on the fly, that’s the biggest challenge, but it’s an exciting challenge.”
[ALSO READ: Tia Andaya sums up Alas Pilipinas debut, looks forward to joining Choco Mucho in PVL]
Despite the language barrier and the shift in playing style, Andaya shared that her transition has been smooth thanks to the warm welcome she’s received from her new teammates.
“They’re all super nice, super welcoming. As I’m still learning Tagalog, they’re a little shy with the English sometimes, but we’re connecting and it’s really good. I like it here,” she said with a smile.
Up next for Andaya and the Flying Titans will be the PLDT High Speed Hitters on Thursday, October 16.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.