Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ Deanna Wong in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho setter Deanna Wong has been embracing a limited role in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference so far with new playmaker Mars Alba taking charge of running the plays for the Flying Titans.
But Wong trusts the system of coach Dante Alinsunurin, remaining cautious of her nagging knee injury, which led to her limited role at the start of the season.
“Siyempre alam naman nila coach kung paano ‘yung gagawin during game or kung anuman pong strategy na ginagawa. Lagi namang sinasabi nila coach na health-wise talaga ‘yung mas mahalaga,” said Wong.
READ: PVL: Deanna Wong says Mars Alba ‘can lead’ Choco Mucho
The fan-favorite setter made her first start and played her most minutes yet this conference, dishing out nine excellent sets in Choco Mucho’s 25-15, 25-16, 25-21 win over the also-ran Capital1 on Saturday at Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.
“Masaya na nakapaglaro na pero unti-unti pa rin. It’s more of the system talaga that we follow kaya kahit sino naman ipasok, nagagawa pa rin namin ‘yung kailangang gawin,” said Wong, who played in the first two sets before Alba started and finished the third.
The former Ateneo star came off the bench in four of the six matches she played. But it’s exactly Alinsunurin is asking from his team–everyone contributing from starters to the bench players.
READ: PVL: Deanna Wong flourishing for surging Choco Mucho
Choco Mucho holds the No.1 seed with a 7-1 record and is looking to bolster its semifinal chances when it battles the winless Strong Group Athletics on Saturday next week at Philsports Arena.
Wong reminds her team that it’s all about helping each other.
“It starts sa training naman lalo na sina coach at saka ‘yung teammates ko, nandyan naman sila. It’s more of how we help each other and how we bring up each other, and dahil naman sa kanila ‘yun,” she said.