PLDT has been struck with a handful of injuries and key absences as of late.
READ: Rhea Dimaculangan leaving PLDT after 3 years with PVL club
Albeit undermanned, the High Speed Hitters extended its active streak of finishing either fourth or fifth to five straight PVL conferences, dating back to the 2023 season.
But even in light of veteran setter Rhea Dimaculangan’s exit as first reported by SPIN.ph, a pair of notable returnees will suit up straight away for PLDT come the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference in November.
Savi, Dell return
One of the league’s elite scorers in Savi Davison missed the entirety of last season’s Reinforced Conference by surprise.
She may not have had any in-game injuries, but a mutual decision between her and PLDT management led her to redshirt the import-laden play.
The Fil-Canadian spiker underwent a procedure on her left knee which she described as part of a longstanding rehabilitation process from an ACL tear she suffered in 2016.
“(It's) just a minor injury, just cleaned up. General wear and tear basically (after reconstruction in a major surgery). I got my ACL done back in 2017, haven't had any issues since," Davison said.
“I just want to go and clean it up. I have a bit of loose cartilage, so everything's okay. Nothing major.”
Meanwhile, veteran middle blocker Dell Palomata had to sit out the same conference to fulfill her Alas Pilipinas duties.
National team players were cleared to return to their PVL clubs as early as the season-ending Invitational Conference — one that PLDT skipped in light of injuries and player absences.
But as per PLDT head coach Rald Ricafort, Davison is already at ‘100 percent’ while Palomata has already been cleared, making the pair good to go for the next conference.
Waiting game for KKD, KAF
Yet-to-debut Kianna Dy and an injured Kim Fajardo are both on the mend from their respective knee injuries.
Roughly a full calendar year has passed since Dy last played in the PVL for the defunct F2 Logistics, with her much-anticipated PLDT debut still in the works.
Conversely, while Fajardo has seen action for PLDT already, the multi-awarded playmaker went through an operation on her knee after dealing with recurring pain during the Reinforced Conference.
Even as they move closer to their on-court returns, their is no definite time table on when they can play again.
But with a six-month-long conference in the horizon, there is optimism that both Dy and Fajardo can return at some point next year.
“Si KKD at Kim (Fajardo), recovering pa. Hindi pa nakakapag-court. KKD, very minimal pa lang. No jumps pa,” Ricafort told SPIN.ph.
In addition, Dy is still in the process of ‘gradually integrating herself’ to the PLDT program through thrice-a-week training sessions.
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