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    Bien Zoleta nearly quit due to injury. Now she's back as double gold medalist

    Bien Zoleta wins two golds in SEA Games after two-year recovery from ACL
    May 14, 2023
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    PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Of the three gold medals captured by the Philippine soft tennis team in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, Bien Zoleta won two.

    It was an excellent achievement in these Games considering what she had to go for over two years.

    See Philippine women's team bags SEA Games gold medal in soft tennis

    After capturing the singles and doubles diadem in 2019 in Manila, Zoleta sustained an ACL injury on Dec. 5, 2020, just two days before the second anniversary of her SEA Games conquest with a double gold in the singles and doubles at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

    “Na-injure ako sa isang tennis na practice game. Pag-talon ko, nag-pop ‘yung tuhod ko. Based sa MRI, complete ACL tear siya. Three weeks after, inoperahan na ako for ACL reconstruction,” said Zoleta.

    Zoleta admitted she thought her athletic career was done. She said the injury was so bad she couldn’t even run during the rehabilitation process.

    “Career-ending kasi kapag na-ACL na lalo na sa sports na tumatakbo kaya ‘yung iba, hindi na nakakabalik or matagal makabalik not unless magaling ‘yung S&C (strength and conditioning) rehab coach,” said Zoleta.

    “Hindi po talaga ako makatakbo,” said Zoleta.

    “Pinaka-lowest of my career ‘yun and my life na rin. Galing ako sa pinaka-peak ng career ko. Two SEA Games gold then two days before my SEA Games anniversary, naputol ‘yung tuhod ko,” said Zoleta.

    Zoleta-Mañalac, Catindig

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    Zoleta said she was on the verge of quitting when she took part in the team’s training camp in October but was still struggling to even do the simplest of task like bending her knees due to the injury.

    Talks, however, with her coaches Divine Escala and Michael Enriquez served as motivation to continue and withdraw thoughts of quitting the game.

    “Mag-quit na sana ako noon kasi nag-back to zero talaga ako na kahit i-bend ‘yung tuhod ko, hindi ko pa rin magawa. Pero inencourage pa rin ako ng mga coaches na ang haba na ng inilaban ko sa rehab at konting months na lang before the SEA Games. Pero sinabihan na rin ako na mag-decide ako before the SEA Games deadline nung March kung ayaw ko na ba talaga o hindi,” said Zoleta.

    “Sila (Escala and Enriquez) kasi talaga ang nag-push sa akin na ‘makakabalik ka.’ ‘Yun ang mga words na ‘yun ang pinanghahawakan ko for two years,” said Zoleta.

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      Determined once again to return, she also looked for another strength and conditioning coach for her third rehabilitation to prepare her for the SEA Games. She found one in Luis de Mesa of Strive and Fitness Performance and it was a success.

      “’Yung ika-third na rehab ko, dahil sa kanya, nakatakbo ako ng full run. Six months ago, hindi pa rin ako makatakbo bago ako napunta sa kanya.

      “Four months ago lang ako naka-full run talaga,” said Zoleta.

      The federation decided to give the women’s singles spot to Zoleta’s sister Bambi, but Bien was healthy enough to be part of the roster and teamed up with Princess Catindig in the doubles.

      “Hindi po kasi puwede umulit ng event gawa ng limitation of entry. Since si Bambi na ‘yung pinrepare na mag-singles since nagrerehab pa ako sa injury kaya sa doubles na po ako nilagay,” said Zoleta.

      Despite coming off an injury, Zoleta was still able to maintain her two-gold performance in 2019.

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      Zoleta captured the gold again in women’s doubles with Catindig, and the duo was part of the gold medal winning team with Bambi, Christy Sanosa, Fatima Amirul, and Virvienica Bejosano.

      Zoleta said this SEAG was a special one, thanking the people behind her recovery led by De Mesa, Escala, and Enriquez.

      “Working really hard to get my ‘One day, I will run again,’” said Zoleta in a Facebook post.

      “This SEA Games means a lot to me. Been striving for 28 months to get back in my top shape just to be able to fully run again, finding the courage in every setback, in my every Day One in rehab,” said Zoleta.

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