Deanna Wong’s debut in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference will have to wait.
Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin shared on Thursday that Wong’s return to action remains uncertain as her lingering injury, which caused her to miss games in the previous season, continues to affect her recovery.
Alinsunurin said the team wants Wong, who is considered day-to-day, to make a full recovery before returning to the court.
“As of now, yun pa rin yung injury niya from the previous conference. Ngayon ang ginagawa namin is tinatake namin siya… parang nire-ready na namin siya na pagdating niya sa loob ng court is hindi na mangyari ulit yung pilit lagi ang galaw niya,” said Alinsunurin.
“Parang sinasabi ko sa kanya mahaba yung conference, kailangan mong magpagaling and kailangan mong pag tumungtong sa court dapat one-hundred percent na.”
The UAAP champion coach revealed that the former Ateneo star remains limited in practice, participating only in select drills.
“Wala pa eh, talagang lagi lang kaming everyday nago-observe [kung] ano ‘yung pwedeng i-improve sa kanya na magawa niya. Pero nag-start na siya magbola, pero more on hindi naman stationary, ganun lang ginagawa namin sa kanya,” said Alinsunurin.
(C) PVL Images
In Wong’s absence, Mars Alba took over the starting role, while veteran playmaker Jem Ferrer logged meaningful minutes in the Flying Titans’ first two games of the five-month all-local tilt.
Alba weaved her magic and tossed 20 excellent sets to go along with four points in Choco Mucho’s five-set win over Galeries Tower on Thursday, while Ferrer provided stability to the team in her limited playing time.
“Nagiging maganda naman kasi bago may problema si Deanna, andiyan naman lagi ‘yung dalawa. May mga konting lamang si Deanna kay syempre kay Mars, and sabi ko nga dahil everyday na nagpa-practice, everyday na nagfo-focus kami sa kanya, siguro ‘yung mga pagkukulang napupunan naman,” said Alinsunurin.
“Syempre kung ano ‘man yung nagiging performance dati ni Deanna, andyan naman palagi si Mars kung ano ang pwede niyang gawin. Kaya more on health and conditioning lang din lagi sa kanila and ngayon, talagang minsan naman nag-usap sila kung ano ang pwede yung gawin para mag-improve yung ginagawa namin lagi sa court.”
