Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Deanna Wong.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Deanna Wong believes Mars Alba has what it takes to lead the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, which opens on February 20.
Wong admitted that she hasn’t worked much with Alba since the latter signed with Choco Mucho last January, but she already saw a glimpse of her fellow playmaker’s leadership.
“We really haven’t been able to work together, play together because I’ve been doing other stuff but I see her work. I can see what she’s capable of so I think she can lead a team, she can lead a team to victory,” Wong, the Choco Mucho starting setter, told reporters in the PVL Media Day on Sunday.
The former Ateneo playmaker said Alba and fellow newcomers Mean Mendrez, Royse Tubino, and Bia General are still adjusting to coach Dante Alinsunurin’s system. Still, Wong promises that she and her fellow holdovers will keep on guiding them until they form a solid cohesion.
Deanna Wong on Choco Mucho’s upcoming campaign. #PVLMediaDay @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/WVtUj7iIbo
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) February 11, 2024
“They’re learning to adapt the system of what coach Dante is giving but of course they still need some polishing. They miss one of two things and still forget what they have to do but the team is here to help them and guide them,” Wong said.
After making their first finals appearance in the All-Filipino Conference last December, Wong has remained hungry this season with the new-look Flying Titans, who will continue to parade reigning MVP Sisi Rondina.
“We’re really motivated. We can’t stick to where we ended up last time, we always start from scratch. So we need to go back to what we need to do. We’re gonna keep on training and keep on improving to reach an even higher goal next season,” she said.
“We need to build on and work on what we learned from the finals. That’s where we need to focus on.”
Wong will have two setters on her side with Alba joining her and veteran Jem Ferrer in running the plays for Rondina, Mendrez, Isa Molde, Kat Tolentino, Maddie Madayag, and Cherry Nunag.