By Will Imperial
After a groundbreaking finals appearance last season, Choco Mucho’s seasoned playmaker, Deanna Wong, is driven by a relentless determination to elevate her team’s performance in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season.
As the season approaches, Wong and the Flying Titans, spurred by their maiden finals appearance, are focused on reaching new heights. Despite falling short to the more experienced Creamline in a sweep during the Second All-Filipino Conference finals, Wong and her teammates remain undeterred and committed to continuous improvement.
Wong emphasizes their motivation, stating, “Perhaps we don’t dwell on what we achieved before; we always start from scratch. So, we’re going to keep on training and keep on improving so that, of course, in the next season, our goals are even higher.”
Drawing on the valuable experiences gained in the previous finals, Wong believes these moments will shape their upcoming campaign as they aim to surpass their silver medal finish from the last conference. Reflecting on the finals, she acknowledges areas for enhancement and notes that their off-season preparations are focused on addressing these specific aspects.
“What we learned from the previous season, what we learned from the finals—that’s where we identify what needs improvement. Our training remains consistent, but we focus on the areas that need work,” shared the 25-year-old setter from Cebu.
Despite key departures during the off-season, including team captain Bea De Leon, libero Denden Lazaro-Revilla, and Caitlyn Viray, the Flying Titans secured notable replacements in Mean Mendrez, Royse Tubino, Bia General, and Mars Alba.
Adapting to Coach Dante Alinsunurin’s system is an ongoing process for the new additions, with Wong expressing that they are still in the learning phase. However, she remains optimistic about their integration into the team dynamics, highlighting the unwavering support of the entire Flying Titans roster.
“Okay naman, they’re learning to adapt to the system that Coach Dante is giving, pero, syempre, kailangan pa i-polish. May minsan hindi nila nakukuha, minsan nakakalimutan nila, but andun naman yung teammates, yung team para tulungan sila at i-guide sila.”
