Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Sisi Rondina and Deana Wong. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Cebuanas Deanna Wong and Sisi Rondina are thrilled to be playing together at Choco Mucho in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.
Rondina sizzled on her PVL debut with a game-high 14 points, while Wong dished out eight excellent sets and fired five aces to finish with eight points in their 25-14, 25-7, 25-16 win over Farm Fresh on Thursday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
“Actually, nakakatuwa kasi it’s another addition na makatulong sa team. Last year pa dapat siya sa team diba pero due to unforeseen circumstances hindi natuloy. Really grateful kasi before napagusapan namin maging teammates coming both from our home province Cebu,” said Wong after the game.
(It’s good; because he’s another addition who can help our team. She was supposed to join us last year, but due to unforeseen circumstances that didn’t push through. I’m grateful because we’ve talked before about being teammates coming both from our home province Cebu.)
Rondina, who made her indoor comeback after four years, wanted to convert every play made by Wong, who used to be her rival in the UAAP when University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo clashed in the Season 81 finals in 2019.
Choco Mucho setter Deanna Wong. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
“Ako talaga honestly, gusto ko iparamdam kay Deanna na maganda siya magset. Ganun ako every setter na kasama ko gusto ko iparamdam sa kanya na ang ganda ng set mo; Kahit pinapalo gusto ko pinupuntos ko kaagad. Kumbaga, hindi ako makakapalo kung wala yung setter. Ganun yung gusto ko iparamdam sa kanya,” said the 5-foot-6 spiker.
(Honestly, I wanted to Deanna feel that her sets are good. That’s how I am with every setter I play with, I always want to make them feel that they giving me good sets. That’s why I always want to score right away. I can’t spike without the setter, that’s what I want them to feel.)
The young setter lauded the impact Rondina has been bringing to their team so far.
“Nagkakaconnect agad tapos nagkakaintindihan so just really grateful na andyan siya kasi malaking tulong hindi lang through offense and defense and through what she’ve learn dun nga sa international beach volley. Laking tulong niya po sa team,” she said.
(We connected and understood each other right away. So I’m grateful she’s there because he’s a big help to us, not just on offense and defense but also through what she’s learned in international beach volley. She’s a big help to our team.)
Despite their dominant win to start their Pool B campaign, Wong stressed that there is still a lot of work to be done.
“Masaya po kasi syempre nanalo pero malayo pa yung pwede naming maimprove,” she said.
(We’re happy of course but there’s still so much to improve on.)