MANILA, Philippines -- Taking a risk paid off at the best time possible for Ateneo de Manila University setter Deanna Wong, as she scored on the 1-2 play that gave the Lady Eagles an impressive victory over University of the Philippines (UP) on Sunday.

The veteran setter had been getting stuffed on her attempts to score all throughout the match, with UP's Justine Dorog in particular getting the better of her.

But with the match on the line, the reigning UAAP Best Setter again took matters into her own hands -- and her gamble paid off as her attack found an empty spot in the Lady Maroons' side of the court.

DEANNA WONG DID 👏 THAT 👏 #UAAPSeason81Volleyball pic.twitter.com/OLbS3xskJj

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Her last kill gave Wong two points on top of 16 excellent sets, putting the bow on Ateneo's 25-21, 25-15, 28-26 triumph. It was their fourth consecutive win, giving them the top spot in the UAAP Season 81 standings.

"As Coach O (Oliver Almadro) says na high risk, high reward," said Wong after the game. "That's what's in my head, and I trusted myself lang."

"Hindi ko naman inisip na makaka-point siya, I just did what I had to do," she added. "It was instinct lang."

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For Almadro, it was a delight to see Wong respond to the challenge that he had given to the setter. The coach had spent many timeouts encouraging the playmaker to be patient, to pick her spots, and Wong did just that in the final rally of the match.

"I'm really pushing her to be the best setter that she is," said Almadro, who mentored five-time Best Setter Ish Polvorosa back when he was the coach of the Blue Eagles.

"Most of the time kasi players tend to be frustrated because they cannot do what they want to do, so I’m telling her to be patient, darating iyan, basta keep pushing yourself, don’t put a limit to yourselves, ma-achieve ang gusto mong ma-achieve," he added.

"Deanna responded today."

Almadro gave all the credit for the match-winner to Wong, stressing that it was a display of the talent and skill that his player has.

"Talagang she has to believe in herself, and believe in anong capabilities niya pa," he said.

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