In the wake of their maiden finals appearance last season, Choco Mucho's seasoned playmaker Deanna Wong is not resting on the laurels of past successes.
As the 2024 Premier Volleyball League Season looms on the horizon, Wong and the Flying Titans are driven by a relentless determination to reach new heights.
Their remarkable journey in the season-ending Second All-Filipino Conference witnessed them making history with their inaugural finals berth, albeit falling short to the more experienced Creamline in a sweep.
Undeterred by the setback, Wong emphasizes their commitment to continuous improvement, avoiding complacency, and starting anew each season.
“We're really motivated. 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,” shared setter out of Cebu.
Wong believes that the invaluable experiences gained during the finals will be instrumental in shaping their upcoming campaign, as they aim to surpass their silver-medal finish from the previous conference.
Reflecting on the finals, Wong acknowledges the areas that need enhancement, emphasizing that their off-season preparations are centered 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,” stated the 25-year-old product of Ateneo.
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, as Wong conveys that they are still in the learning phase.
However, she remains optimistic about their integration into the team dynamics with 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.”
