Choco Mucho head coach Dante Alinsunurin made a bold move on Thursday night, shifting Mars Alba to the opposite position and bringing in Deanna Wong to support her late in Game 2 of their 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals series against PLDT.
With the High Speed Hitters threatening to force a winner-take-all Game 3, Alinsunurin opted to change things up by subbing in Wong to replace Royse Tubino, with Choco Mucho holding a slim 10-9 lead in the fifth set.
The decision was a calculated one for Alinsunurin and his coaching staff, as the Flying Titans were short on options at the opposite position due to the absence of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, who was sidelined with knee tightness.
Alinsunurin knew he had to get creative with his available roster, and the adjustment aimed to give Choco Mucho a better fighting chance and added flexibility on the court.
“Talagang naisip ko na kailangan ko ng pamalit, ng substitute para makatulong in case na sila Mars ay nasa harapan. Siguro bago namin talaga gawin yung part na ‘yun, talagang pinag-isipan namin kasi kailangan talaga namin magpalit ng tao, kung sinong kailangan,” said Alinsunurin.
“Nakita ko na mas advantage kung setter talaga kasi position niya talaga. Kasi wala talaga kaming tao na pwedeng pumalit sa opposite, kaya sabi ko mas gamay ng setter ko yung galaw sa loob.”
(C) PVL Images
With Wong subbing in, Alba shifted to the opposite position, strengthening the Flying Titans’ floor defense against the relentless Savannah Davison while also providing another reliable offensive option on the wings. The adjustment also gave the team two playmakers, creating multiple points of attack.
It’s safe to say the adjustment paid off.
With the score tied at 13, Alba outwitted two blockers with a perfectly timed cut shot that caught PLDT off guard, propelling the Flying Titans to match point at 14-13. This set the stage for Sisi Rondina to deliver the finishing blow that sealed their semifinal berth.
“Pinag-uusapan talaga namin kung ano pa ‘yung dapat naming gawin. Hanggang sa nakita namin pwede palang pumalo si Mars (Alba), although tini-training naman niya ‘yan, talaga pumapalo (siya),” Alinsunurin said after Choco Mucho’s hard-fought 25-15, 12-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-13 victory on Thursday night.
“Sobrang crucial ng opensa niya na ‘yun kaya nakuha namin ‘yung game kasi gusto naming makabalik talaga sa semis.”
For her part, Alba revealed she had been diligently working on her attacking in practice, knowing it could prove valuable when her team needed it most. Her crucial moment was simply a result of her preparation and hard work.
(C) PVL Images
“For me, siguro may kumpiyansa lang given na ginagawa ko sa ensayo kasi lately nakikisali na ako sa free spiking. Napractice naman kaya kumpiyansa din ako may connection kami ni Ate Deanna (Wong),” said the La Salle standout.
“For me, yung iniisip ko nung time na yun, backup lang talaga ako. Given na nasa harap talaga si Ate Sisi (Rondina), talagang pumorsiyento lang ako. Hindi ko lang inexpect pero ready ako. Hindi ko inexpect na binigay sa akin ni Ate Deanna yung bola, pero yun, sabi ko, angat lang — ako bahala, magco-contribute ako kung anong puwede para yun.”
Alba also admitted she was surprised when Wong informed her she wasn’t subbing in for her, but for Tubino instead.
“Di ko rin inexpect kasi akala ko kami ni Ate Deanna magpapalit kanina, tapos biglang sabi, ‘Hindi, ikaw’,” she said.
The 5-foot-6 playmaker had been instrumental in Choco Mucho’s success throughout the series. Entering the third set of Game 1, Alba immediately made her presence felt, orchestrating plays that shifted the momentum and fueled her squad’s stunning reverse sweep.
In the Game 2 decider, Alba delivered a masterful performance, tallying 21 excellent sets along with seven points to help Choco Mucho secure the win and advance to the semifinals.
