IT was at the Philsports Arena in November 2023 when Jolina dela Cruz had a gruesome fall that tore her right ACL.
More than a year to the day she underwent surgery, dela Cruz shone brightest with a 20-piece in her team debut to lead Farm Fresh to its third win at Nxled's expense.
READ: Jolina makes immediate impact as Farm Fresh blanks Nxled
She was first to admit, however, that nerves almost got the better of her before exorcising the ghosts of a painful past at the Pasig venue.
“Pagpasok ko kanina, nagpe-pray lang ako kasi nga kahapon, sabi ko, dito ako na-injure sa Philsports. Kanina, nu’ng dumidepensa ako, (inaalalayan) pa ako ni coach [Benson] Bocboc kasi alam niya ‘yung nangyari sa'kin dito last year,” said dela Cruz.
“Unti-unti ko namang nao-overcome ‘yung fear.”
From the eve of her Foxies debut, the 25-year-old spiker was doing her best to fight off feelings of unease.
Thankfully, her nerves of steel came through come game day.
“Kahapon, wala pa masyadong kaba kasi hindi ko pa iniisip masyado yung game (today) para hindi ako kabahan. Pero pagpasok ko kanina, medyo naaligaga ako kaya naghabol talaga ako sa warmup,” dela Cruz said.
“Nakaka-miss talaga ‘yung ganung feeling na mapanood ng mga fans at makapaglaro ulit talaga sa court.”
Growing from the sidelines
Mental battles aside, dela Cruz made the most of her 14-month absence by still being a student of the game from the sidelines.
As she put it, “Nu’ng sa sidelines, nanonood lang kami. Naging opportunity din sa’min na naging observer kami sa labas, so nakikita namin na ganito pala siguro dapat kung paano ‘to paluin."
The newest Foxies ace added, referring to fellow ACL injury returnee Lorene Toring “Opportunity siya para makapag-aral pa kami, so halos one year din ‘yun na nag-aaral kami ni Lorene and ayun, sana nga ma-master pa namin.”
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