Kat Tolentino stays patient, plays through auditory issues

Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Kat Tolentino during the PVL All-Filipino Conference opener. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Playing through an auditory condition didn’t stop Kat Tolentino from making an impact for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans despite losing in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference. 

Tolentino showed flashes of her lethal attacking form with 12 points in three sets but Choco Mucho fell to Petro Gazz, 20-25, 28-26, 21-25, 16-25, in the opening game of both teams on Saturday at Philsports Arena. 

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“I know I can give more. I think that’s just the beginning right now. It’s not enough for the team. I know that I have to contribute both offensively and defensively and I think I still have so much more to offer for this season,” said Tolentino, who had 10 kills and two blocks. 

“My conditioning is getting there and I feel a lot more confident. It’s just different of course in a game, situation with the crowd, with the environment and maybe that’s what I have to adjust to and get used to because I haven’t really played fully in a while like how I played earlier so I’m being patient with myself also and I’m having to get the support also for my teammates which is good,” she added.

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Kat Tolentino in action during 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 the reporters that she has yet to fully recover her hearing in her left ear for the last nine months due to the auditory condition that sidelined her through the whole duration of the first conference this year and in the Reinforced last July.

“It’s different because I’m deaf in my left ear so all the sounds are coming from my right side so it’s pretty different. Just even as a person in the arena, it’s different but it’s not something that I can’t deal with. I just have to adjust and understand that this is the condition I have so I have to get used to it,” Tolentino said.

READ: PVL: Kat Tolentino credits Choco Mucho’s unbeaten start to coach’s system

“And so far it’s been okay, it’s just really loud on my right side. But other than that, my team has been really supportive and I’m thankful for that.”

“According to the ENT, it hasn’t exactly come back and it’s been almost around 9 months. Hopefully, it’s not permanent. Hopefully, it will come back. But right now, I just can’t really hear so much in my left side.”

Despite the loss, Tolentino, the remaining original Choco Mucho member, relished the growth of the team despite the absence of longtime 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’ve been with Choco Mucho since the beginning. I’ve seen how it’s evolved and I know that we have to kind of fail or lose in order to win so I’ve gone through many Choco Muchos where we’ve lost. I’m not doubting the team or anything. I know that we can bounce back from this and I know that it’s a process and Choco Mucho has come so far since when I first started so I’m just gonna keep working hard,” said Tolentino, who was part of the franchise’s league debut in 2019.

The star opposite spiker admitted she misses Madayag, her teammate since college, but she’s proud of her other teammates stepping up with Sisi Rondina leading the team and Cherry Nunag and Lorraine Pecaña manning the middle.

“I’m so used to playing with her as the middle but I also got used to playing with the other girls so it’s nice to see our rookie Lorraine step up and fill her position. I’m thankful that she was able to do well today and of course, I miss her and I’m glad that my other teammates are able to perform,” she said.

Choco Mucho and Galeries clash for the first win on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City as Tolentino remains optimistic in the six-month tournament.

“I think we just have to adjust. It’s the first game so we can’t lose hope or feel like this is how it’ll be for the conference. I mean it’s good to have it at the beginning so that we can learn from it and we can fix what we need to fix,” Tolentino said.