KIANNA Dy's high-profile move with fellow La Salle hotshots Kim Fajardo and Majoy Baron from the now-defunct F2 Logistics to PLDT quickly became the talk of the town ahead of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
One might think that the prospect of F2's top-caliber stars donning new colors and playing with new teammates sounds nothing more than just a nerve-wracking fever dream before the Cargo Movers' abrupt disbandment.
But for Dy, roughly a month since their triple transfer to PLDT was put out in the open, her new reality isn't as scary as she thought it'd be.
READ: KKD looks forward to on-court battles, staredowns with ex-F2 teammates
"Moving to a different team, (given how) I’ve been with my past team for like 10 years already, for me (I thought) it was a scary transition pero ‘yun pala hindi. Siyempre, my teammates, and my coaches made it easy," said Dy.
"Akala ko nakakatakot, but ‘di pala."
'A sign for us to grow'
While acknowledging the seamlessness of her ongoing transition as a new High Speed Hitter, Dy also recognized how the Cargo Movers' disbandment was a sign for them to go and grow in their separate ways.
"All my teammates are very easy to get along with and the coaching staff is very patient naman with the transition. In-expect ko nga na parang matagal pa kaming magkakapaan pero it’s been easy."
Dy added: "I feel like what While happened nga (F2 disbandment) was a sign for us to grow na rin and learn more siguro from a different system. It’s also very nice to know na marami pa kaming hindi alam about the sport."
And as she watched the tournament opener of the 2024 PNVF Champions League from the stands featuring Macandili-Catindig and ex-F2 ace Jov Fernandez' Cignal side take on Maraño and Galang's Chery Tiggo, KKD felt a joint sense of pride and longing in seeing her longtime teammates turn to on-court foes.
"Nakaka-proud and nakaka-miss because it’s my first time seeing them in different teams. Ang weird, parang papalo si ate Ara (Galang), idi-dig ni Dawn (Macandili-Catindig), pero nakakatuwa. I like watching them play," said Dy.
Home away from home
The PLDT-bound trio of Dy-Baron-Fajardo will soon reunite on the taraflex with an old pal in Mika Reyes who is still on the mend from an offseason shoulder surgery.
Together, the quartet formed the unassailable core of La Salle's UAAP Season 78 women's volleyball champion team — Dy's first title as a Lady Spiker — alongside Galang and Macandili-Catindig
Although the mini-championship reunion won't be happening anytime soon as Reyes and Dy herself remain sidelined, the latter already looks forward to sharing the floor with her 'ate Ye.'
"Nakakatuwa kasi ‘yun nga, Season 78 was really a memorable season for me. First championship ko ‘yun nu’ng college. It’s nice to reunite with my old teammate, ate Ye (Reyes).
"‘Yun ‘yung isang deciding factor ko rin moving to PLDT kasi I found out na kinukuha rin nila si Majoy (Baron) and KAF (Fajardo). Parang it wasn’t as hard because kasama ko rin sila and naging teammate ko rin si ate Ye and then si Erika (Santos) rin tapos naging teammate ko rin si ate Rhea (Dimaculangan). I think that’s one of the reasons why it became easy also," said Dy.
The million-dollar question, as it now stands for Dy, is when she'll be able to return to action after a conference-long layoff last year to a knee injury. She may not know the answer for now, but best believe she's 'getting there.'
"Actually, we’re taking it day by day. Hindi namin binibigla kasi tuhod eh. We’re just taking it slowly. Hindi namin pinipilit ‘yung mga hindi pa pwede. ‘Di ko masabi eh (how ready I am physically) but I’m getting there."
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