PVL: Deanna Wong flourishing for surging Choco Mucho

Deanna Wong and Sisi Rondina and the rest of the Choco Mucho Flying Titans during a game against Nxled in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Choco Mucho setter Deanna Wong continued to thrive under the system of coach Dante Alinsunurin and playmaking mentor Jessie Lopez as she led the Flying Titans to their fourth straight victory in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) second All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday.

Wong displayed her playmaking brilliance with 20 excellent sets to help Choco Mucho sweep the Nxled Chameleons, 25-11, 25-20, 25-19, at Philsports Arena.

Sisi Rondina led a balanced attack with 16 points, 12 digs, and seven excellent sets for the Flying Titans, who forced a four-way tie at 4-1 with Chery Tiggo, Petro Gazz, and PLDT for the No. 2 seed behind unbeaten defending champion Creamline (4-0).

Lopez, a former Philippine men’s national team setter who was part of the historic silver medal run in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, lauded Wong as she continues to unlock her full potential as a playmaker.

“Noong pumunta kami sa Choco Mucho nakitaan ko talaga ng potential yung bata kasi si Deanna talaga. nakapag-champion ng UAAP yan so talagang may dugong champion yan. Ang kailangan lang talaga is yung approach namin nila coach Dante is mailabas yung natural na gagalawin niya  sa loob ng court at the same time yung progress niya every training and game,” said Choco Mucho assistant coach Lopez, speaking for Alinsunurin after he lost his voice.

“Nakikita ko na nakukuha na niya  70 to 80 percent na and alam ko may ilalabas pa siya and yun yung gusto ko makita sa mga susunod,” he added.

Deanna Wong.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Wong, who played for Oliver Almadro at Ateneo in college and her first two years in the PVL, admitted it took time for her to adjust to Alinsunurin’s style of coaching when they signed her to the team in January.

And she is grateful for the trust and patience of Alinsunurin and Lopez as she continues to master their system and run the plays smoothly for he teammates.

“At first it was hard because it’s not the system that I grew into. Five years of my life [I played in the same system] it was hard for me to adjust,” Wong said in Filipino. “I think that’s what I’m grateful for coach Jessie and coach Dante because they are patient with me. That’s what I need ever since. “It’s really about taking it one step at a time and trusting the process.”

Wong equally distributed the offensive wealth with Isa Molde chipping in nine points including three straight spikes in the third set that broke a 19-all deadlock. Choco Mucho finished the match with a 6-0 run capped by Aduke Ogunsanya’s quick attack and Sisi Ronda’s game-winning kill.

Ogunsanya, Kat Tolentino, and Cherry Nunag chopped in six points each, while Maddie Madayag added four markers as she only played in the first two sets.

“Our coaches always tell us to stay in the system all the time and I think game by game it works but there’s always room for improvement. We’re happy and grateful for the win, through the guidance of the coaches and the management and teammates,” Wong said as they take on Akari on Saturday. “We have more games to play so whatever happens to the court earlier, we will bring the learnings moving forward.”

Lopez is proud of the 25-year-old setter’s growth in their third conference together. And he believes that the best is yet to come for Wong.

“Actually nakakaproud kasi nakikita ko kung hirap niya sa training na ginagawa then dito sa game lumalabas. Sana magtuloy tuloy and alam ko marami pa siyang ilalabas. May talent yung bata pero kailangan pa din namin ifigure out kung ano pa yung pwede namin gawin para mas maggrow as a setter na hindi kinocommand ng coaches,” he said.

Nxled dropped its fourth straight game with a 1-4 record as Jho Maraguinot carried the team with 14 points and 13 excellent receptions. Judith Abil played her best PVL game yet with 11 points, 11 receptions, and eight digs.

The Chameleons try to end their skid against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Thursday at the same venue.