Fan favorite setter Deanna Wong provided instant impact in her return to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans after a five-month layoff.
After a five-month absence, Deanna Wong provided instant impact in her first game back for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Wong finished with seven points and 10 excellent sets off the Choco Mucho bench, along with securing Player of the Game honors in a thrilling 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9 comeback against the upstart ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.
“Medyo kabado, nilalamig po ako kanina. Pero, ayun nga, kung ano pong ibigay na role po nila coach, tiwala lang po. So, yun nga, pinagt-training naman namin sa practice. So, siguro, nung una, nag-alalay pa,” the longtime setter said during the post-game press conference.
Deanna Wong last played for Choco Mucho during the 2024 Reinforced Conference in August, before sitting out the first month of All-Filipino action due to a nagging knee injury. But even with an extended absence, her longtime bond with the Flying Titans allowed for an easier transition back into the lineup.
“I think also it’s because matagal na po kasi kami magkasama, so kahit nawala ako nang ganon katagal, nababalik lang din naman pagkabalik ko sa training. So hindi ganong kahirap po bumalik [sa laro],” she reflected.
The 26-year-old took over lead setting duties in the final three sets as Choco Mucho slowly clawed back from a 2-0 deficit. Apart from stabilizing the offense, Wong also scored the game-winning dump set that completed her Flying Titans’ comeback.
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin believes that Wong exceeded expectations with the performance. After all, the team is still being cautious with her health, which includes limited activity during practice.
“Ayun, sobrang thankful kasi ‘yung expectation namin na alam naming pang sub-sub lang siya ngayon…Pero nung talagang medyo nag-off na si Mars [Alba] sabi ko ‘Deanna, laban mo na’, kung ano man mangyari mamaya pagkatapos ng game,” said Alinsunurin.
Up next for Choco Mucho will be Savi Davison and the PLDT High Speed Hitters on January 23, also at the Philsports Arena. They will face the Akari Chargers and Nxled Chameleons next, before capping off preliminaries against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in Passi City, Iloilo.
Wong knows that it will be on them to establish consistency following a 3-3 start to the conference.
“I think it’s normal for a team to have their ups and downs, pero lahat kami naging patient and it came to a point na parang we needed to regroup and we needed to talk to each other. So ‘yun ‘yung ginawa namin and paunti unti na babalik ‘yung galaw namin as a team,” she reflected.
“Hindi namin alam kung [paano], pero alam namin sa sarili namin na nasa amin lang ‘yun, nasamin lang ‘yung problema so kami rin ‘yung makakapagsolusyon doon.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.