LORRAINE Pecaña has come a long way from being Choco Mucho’s 11th overall pick and lone NCAA first-round selection in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft last year.
The former Arellano ace went on a rough patch midway through prelims play in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference after suffering a right ankle sprain against Akari last February.
Limited minutes and a difficult recovery process then followed for the 23-year-old middle blocker.
Yet through it all, in her first chance back to be of help to Choco Mucho on the taraflex, she pitched in three blocks to cap her six-point outing in their quarterfinals clincher over Chery Tiggo.
READ: Choco Mucho sweeps Chery Tiggo to book PVL quarterfinals seat
What kept her going through such early struggles in her rookie season is reminding herself of the Flying Titans’ draft night gambit to secure the services of an erstwhile ‘no-namer’ like her.
“Kagaya nu’ng sinabi ko nung dati, ‘yung tiwala ni coach nung kinuha niya ako, dapat lagi kong binabaon ‘pag naglalaro ako kasi hindi niya ako kilala nu’n eh,” Pecaña said.
“Kumbaga, wala kaming connection tapos kinuha niya ako, nag-tiwala siya nung drafting. Nakita niya lang ako, pinulot niya lang ako na sama ka sa team.
“‘Yung tiwala nilang lahat sakin pati nung teammates nandun na eh tas babaunin ko siya every game. Kung ‘yung coaches nga pag nagkakamali ako, ‘okay lang,’ eh ako pa kaya.”
It’s been quite some time coming, one month to be exact, for the 11th overall PVL Draft pick to be of help again the Flying Titans’ postseason ascent.
Expect nothing less than for her to take flight without fear in her very first taste of PVL playoffs action in a few weeks’ time.
“Matagal ko nang hinintay na makalabalik kasi dalawang games nawala ako kasi na-injure ako. ‘Yung nasa isip ko kung makakabalik ba ako agad? Pinilit ko lang siya, tinraining ko siya agad,” Pecaña said.
“Gusto ko ipakita ‘yun sa game kasi sa training naman nagagawa ko siya eh, bakit sa game hindi? Ganun lang ‘yung nasa isip ko na ilalaban ko ‘yung game na ito kasi ‘yung elims parang mawawala ‘yung panalo namin kung hindi namin ito ilalaban eh.”
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