SETTERS carry the heavy load of not only orchestrating plays but also making snap decisions on the fine details that could make or break a team on the court.
With three top-caliber setters at semifinalist Choco Mucho’s disposal, head coach Dante Alinsunurin will have his share of difficult decisions to make ahead of the Flying Titans’ semifinals run in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference.
READ: Choco Mucho dodges a bullet vs Farm Fresh in five-set thriller
On one hand, Choco Mucho has the option of fielding its longest-tenured playmaker in Deanna Wong — UAAP Season 80 best setter who has been part of the club since 2021 and was instrumental in the Flying Titans’ bronze medal run in the 2023 VTV Cup in Vietnam.
However, Wong's 2024 campaign has been thus far marred by recurring knee problems dating back to the offseason.
Following the disbandment of now-defunct F2 Logistics, Choco Mucho’s new kid on the block in UAAP Season 85 Finals MVP Mars Alba was quick to turn heads as the club’s starting setter role in her debut conference as a Flying Titan. Alba started in nine of Choco Mucho’s 11 elimination round matches and has been Alinsunurin’s go-to playmaker in light of Wong’s physical woes.
There also remains the option of one of the league’s most experienced playmakers in three-time UAAP best setter Jem Ferrer, who like Wong, took flight in the college ranks with the Ateneo Lady Eagles and is now with her third PVL club in the Flying Titans since joining the league back in 2017.
Credentials aside, while Alinsunurin acknowledged how each of his setters are worthy and capable of landing the starting setter spot, he continues to carry the philosophy of choosing the setter who’ll be the best fit in accordance with the demands of the game against a specific opponent.
“Mars (Alba) and Deanna (Wong), sa’kin kasi, kahit sino naman pwede kong i-first six. Chine-check lang namin talaga kung sino muna 'yung makakalaban namin, kung saan kami lalamang sa kanila or kung ano 'yung kailangan namin du’n sa loob ng court,” said Alinsunurin.
Choco Mucho's defensive demands
Alinsunurin explained how each of his setters’ defensive capabilities are taken into account when fielding one playmaker over the other at any given point in a match — real-time decisions that never come easy for the multi-titled mentor.
This was best reflected in Choco Mucho’s five-set elimination round finale win over Farm Fresh, which saw Wong start for only the second time this conference and play the first three sets before Alba and Ferrer were fielded back-and-forth in the last two sets.
“Kanina mas nakita namin na kailangan namin sa blocking talaga ng setter. Medyo naging effective pero nu’ng bandang huli, nag-off. Nu’ng bandang huli, kailangan na namin na mayroong mas dumedepensa sa loob ng court and mas may naibibigay na kahit medyo nag-off 'yung receive namin, nama-maximize namin sila,” Alinsunurin explained.
“Kaya sobrang hirap ng trabaho ko ngayon kung sino talaga 'yung mas gagamitin ko (na setter). Pero sabi ko nga, may mga coaching staff ako na player din na tumutulong din sa'kin para mas makita namin kung sino talaga 'yung karapat-dapat pagdating sa mga ganung sitwasyon,” he added.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
