KIANNA Dy's sought-after return to the taraflex, which will concurrently be her PLDT debut when the time comes, will have to wait just a bit longer.
WATCH:
Roughly two weeks before the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season goes underway, PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort shared key injury updates on Dy and ace spiker Jovy Prado who remains on the mend from an ACL injury suffered in July.
READ: To her surprise, Kianna Dy says PLDT move wasn't as 'scary' as expected
"Si Kianna (Dy), medyo malabo pa 'yung specific [date of return]," Ricafort told SPIN.ph. "Si Jovy (Prado), siguro third conference pa. Mga October siguro."
This comes on top of PLDT mainstay Mika Reyes' expected absence for the season-opening conference as she recovers from second shoulder surgery in a year.
Staying in shape
With four offseason signings to date in Dy, Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron, and Shiela Kiseo, Ricafort pointed out the importance of keeping his players in the best possible shape in such a short time before the PVL season.
"Actually, hindi siya jelling eh — 'yung sa conditioning itself. May mga injured pa like si Kianna, wala pa ngayon. Tapos si Majoy (Baron) and Kim (Fajardo), mina-manage natin para mag-stay healthy pero 'yun, pinapalakas pa rin namin [sila]," Ricafort said.
It is also through the sharp work ethic of the new PLDT quartet which leads Ricafort to believe that they'll be in peak shape as soon as possible.
"So far okay naman (kasi) professional naman 'yung mga bago. Dagdag na rin 'yung (magandang) attitude siguro. Mababait naman sila."
Ricafort added: "Medyo mabigat 'yung iba naming key losses (Mich Morente, Anj Legacion, Mean Mendrez, and Royse Tubino). Kahit pumalit naman din 'yung mga F2 [players] na dumating, ganun pa rin eh. Tatrabahuin pa rin talaga namin. Hindi kami magiging overconfident na sabihing sure na kami (sa Final Four)."
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