ONE of Philippine volleyball’s fan favorite power couples in Choco Mucho’s Deanna Wong and Akari’s Ivy Lacsina shared the court for the first time in the ongoing 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference last Saturday.
READ: Choco Mucho takes fourth straight win in four sets vs. Akari
And it was Wong and the rest of the streaking Flying Titans who came out on top of Lacsina’s Chargers in four sets.
The real-life sweethearts both delivered strong performances, with Wong dishing out 11 excellent sets, as Lacsina led Akari in defeat with a game-high 18 points.
“Palagi niya akong ini-inspire kasi mas matagal na siya sa industry ng pro (league) at marami akong natututunan sa kanya kaya madalas nilu-look forward ko talaga at tinitignan ko siya (sa games niya),” said Lacsina.
Even as the pair shared some on-court banter and a few ’swag’ moments from across the net, the Chargers' top gun made it clear how she and Wong always make it a point to keep things professional between them when their teams play each other.
“Kapag nasa court kami, ‘di namin iniisip kung anong meron sa’min. Laro lang talaga. Part of the game lang talaga ‘yun para lang siyempre ma-boost din ‘yung isa’t-isa (at) hanggang sulyap lang (sa court)," she said.
Strongest support system
Now together as a couple for almost three years, volleyball will always be that common link that will tie them together on and off the court.
Back when Wong was on her way back to action for Choco Mucho in January, Lacsina shared with SPIN.ph how she backed her partner throughout a lengthy recovery to heal an ailing knee.
“Kunyari may mga needs siya na kailangan sa tuhod niya like checkup, hangga’t kaya naman ng time, du’n ko talaga siya tinutulungan,” she shared.
“Binibigyan ko siya ng motivation. Kapag nag-uusap kami, (sinasabi ko sa kanya na) ‘wag niya isipin na ganun na lang kasi gagaling at gagaling din ‘yun kasi masipag siya mag-rehab."
In that winding road back to full fitness, Lacsina and Wong discovered what would eventually be one of many anchors that hold their relationship steady: being able to be vulnerable in each other’s presence through the roughest of times.
“Never talaga siyang nag-stop (magtrabaho). Du’n ako bilib kay Deanna. Never kasi siyang nagpapakita na mahina siya. Pero ngayon, hindi na rin niya matago ‘yung past na nararamdaman niya,” Lacsina shared.
‘Mind over matter’
Being athletes in the same field made it much easier for them to navigate and understand each other’s needs.
Hence, the two athletic foundations of their relationship? Discipline and fortitude.
“Hindi naman siya mahirap. Mas madali siya kasi mas madali kong ma-open sa kanya, at siya rin, ‘yung nararamdaman niya, mas madali kong naiintindihan. Malaking factor talaga na same kaming athletes,” the Akari star said.
“Madalas ko namang sinasabi sa kanya na marami ka nang pinagdaanan sa buhay na mas mahirap diyan. Maging disiplinado lang talaga at tapangan niya pa kasi mind over matter talaga. Kailangan ko lang din mapa-feel sa kanya na nasa tabi niya ko."
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