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Choco Mucho Sweeps ZUS Coffee to Stay Perfect in PVL All-Filipino Conference

Sisi Rondina-Rosales scored 15 points off the bench and Eya Laure added 13 as Choco Mucho swept ZUS Coffee, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20, to stay unbeaten in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.

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Choco Mucho Sweeps ZUS Coffee to Stay Perfect in PVL All-Filipino Conference

The Choco Mucho Flying Titans are off to a flying start in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. Choco Mucho dismantled ZUS Coffee in straight sets, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20, on October 15 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo to seize the early lead in the Siklab series standings.

Sisi Rondina-Rosales came off the bench for the second straight game and still led all scorers, firing 15 points — every one of them on attacks — as the Flying Titans wrapped up the win in just 78 minutes. Eya Laure backed her up with 13 points and nine excellent receptions, and she took over when the Thunderbelles threatened late.

ZUS Coffee, playing its first match of the conference, pushed within 17-16 in the third set before Laure scored three points in a decisive 7-2 run that stretched the lead to 24-18. AC Miner, who paced the Thunderbelles with nine points, slowed the surge with a down-the-line hit, but Laure answered with an off-the-block winner to close out the sweep.

Kat Tolentino added eight points and seven excellent digs for Choco Mucho, while Jai Atienza chipped in five points and Caitlin Viray four. The win followed the Flying Titans’ reverse sweep of Capital1 in the Cebu opener, giving head coach Dante Alinsunurin’s squad a 2-0 start built on depth — even their leading scorer is coming off the bench.

Photo: PVL Images

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Angel Reese’s Historic Night Powers Dream Past Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 Finals Lead

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

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Angel Reese high-fives Jordin Canada during WNBA Finals Game 3

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to become the first player in WNBA history with a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, and the Atlanta Dream routed the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.

The Atlanta Dream turned their first home game of the WNBA Finals into a statement. Behind another commanding performance from Angel Reese, Atlanta blew out the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series and setting a franchise record for points in a Finals game.

Watch the official Game 3 highlights:

Atlanta’s defense set the tone from the opening tip. The Dream held Golden State scoreless for the first five minutes, and the Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye’s hook shot with 4:38 left in the first quarter. Atlanta led 23-15 after one and 46-40 at halftime.

Golden State made its push early in the third quarter, tying the game at 49. Reese answered personally, fueling an 8-0 run and capping it with a coast-to-coast driving layup. After the Valkyries trimmed the margin to 59-55, the Dream closed the quarter by scoring 12 of the final 14 points to carry a 71-57 lead into the fourth, then outscored Golden State 26-14 the rest of the way. Atlanta has now outscored Golden State 63-35 in third quarters across the series.

Angel Reese celebrates with Rhyne Howard during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena. (AP Photo)

Reese finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. She is the first player in WNBA history to record a double-double in each of her first three Finals games, the youngest player ever with three straight double-doubles in the Finals, and she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to post 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games. She also went 2-for-2 from three-point range; Atlanta is 14-0 this season when Reese makes a three.

“Time to take over. Do whatever it takes to win,” Reese said. “Everybody was just playing together. It’s fun when you win and you play with a great group. So it makes my job super easy.”

Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history with five steals in consecutive Finals games. Naz Hillmon scored 15, Isobel Borlase added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points and eight assists. Atlanta shot 49.3 percent from the field, hit nine three-pointers and owned the paint, 44-20.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, Tiffany Hayes scored 14, and Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 apiece. But the Valkyries shot just 34.8 percent and committed 17 turnovers, which Atlanta converted into 22 points. “Sometimes, promises aren’t kept,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said.

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24 at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. Atlanta, playing in its first Finals since 2013, is now two wins away from the first championship in franchise history.

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