Having been hampered by a nagging knee injury since the start of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Choco Mucho setter Deanna Wong is slowly but surely regaining her footing.
Heading into the critical juncture of the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin understands the importance of every player’s contribution in their title-contention quest.
For this reason, the veteran tactician is elated to see Deanna Wong hit her stride in the Flying Titans’ straight-set rout of the Galeries Tower Highrisers on Tuesday night.
The 5-foot-8 setter may have only tossed out seven excellent sets, but her playmaking proved instrumental when she came off the bench and orchestrated the Choco Mucho offense in the second and third frames.
“Masaya ulit, siyempre, sa naging performance namin. Sobrang thankful ako kasi lahat ng ipinasok na player nag deliver naman. Then si Deanna din nakuha na rin unti-unti 'yung rhythm niya sa paglaro,” Alinsunurin said.
“Sana lang magtuloy tuloy lang ‘yung mga ganung mga sitwasyon na nagagamit namin ‘yung iba kasi pagdating sa end talaga ng game kakailangan namin ‘yung ganung sitwasyon. Sobrang thankful ako sa resulta ng game, ng panalo namin.”
Wong, who has been hampered by a nagging knee injury since the start of the conference, helped put six Choco Mucho players on the scoring charts, with reigning MVP Sisi Rondina leading the way with 16 points, all but three coming from attacks.
Cherry Nunag also benefited from her swift deliveries in the middle to finish with 12 points for the Flying Titans, who also strung nine and seven markers from Isa Molde and Royse Tubino, respectively.
It was a total team effort for Choco Mucho, which has now earned a share of the lead with a 6-1 record, tied with the Creamline Cool Smashers and the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
With the Flying Titans rounding into form, Alinsunurin hopes his wards would stay disciplined as they seek to continue picking up steam heading into the final stretch of the preliminaries.
“Lagi lang ako nagre-remind sakanila na dapat may disiplina pa rin sa loob ng court. Kahit sino ‘yung kalaban ganun pa rin talaga ‘yung mindset. Tuloy tuloy pa rin sa ginagawa namin. Kahit ano ‘yung kailangan naming gawin adjustment,” the seasoned mentor shared.
“Every game and training namin ang pinaghahandaan talaga namin is kung paano kami makakarating sa dulo. Ito ‘yung kailangan namin pagbutihan pa para pagdating ng dulo, alam mo ‘yun, talagang mas makukumpiyansa kami everytime na may playoffs na.”