Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin explained Maddie Madayag's absence and Deanna Wong's limited playing time in their win against Nxled in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
Choco Mucho returned to the win column in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference with a dominant sweep of Nxled, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, on Tuesday, October 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Fans, however, couldn’t help but notice two familiar names seeing limited minutes on the court, namely Maddie Madayag and Deanna Wong.
Head coach Dante Alinsunurin clarified the situation after the match, explaining that the decision to reduce their roles was more about precaution and team strategy than any serious concerns.
Maddie’s situation
According to Alinsunurin, Madayag has been dealing with minor swelling in her knee, prompting the coaching staff to manage her workload carefully.
This forced Madayag, who had 18 points in their opening win, to play limited minutes against PLDT. She then missed their match against Nxled.
“Maddie is nag-ano lang siya, medyo may nag-swell lang 'yung sa tuhod niya kaya pinahinga lang namin,” Alinsunurin said during the post-game press conference. “Last game pa namin, ganun naman talaga kaya hindi ko masyadong binabad pero siguro next game makakalaro na ulit siya.”
Deanna’s situation
As for Deanna Wong, Alinsunurin clarified that her absence from the starting lineup was simply a tactical adjustment based on the team’s needs for the match.
“Hindi naman, okay naman siya,” he said. “‘Yun lang talaga, ‘yung sitwasyon namin is need namin talaga today si Tia [Andaya] na maglaro.”
Deanna Wong played limited minutes in Choco Mucho's victory over Nxled in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference. | Photo: PVL
With Tia Andaya delivering a standout performance, the decision paid off, giving Choco Mucho more versatility on the court.
[ALSO READ: Tia Andaya’s attacking instinct adds new dimension to Choco Mucho offense in PVL Reinforced]
Despite the lineup changes and ongoing adjustments, Alinsunurin was pleased with how his team performed against the Chameleons, especially as they continue to develop chemistry with new pieces in the roster.
“It was a good game talaga 'yung nangyari sa’min,” said Alinsunurin. “Although, still adjusting talaga kami with the setter and Marlee [Smith] pero unti-unti nagka-rhythm kami sa laro namin and nakuha namin ‘yung game.”
It’s still unclear if Madayag and Wong will finally start for Choco Mucho in their next match. But they will have over a week to recover and prepare for Farm Fresh on October 31 at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.