Prized spiker Jolina Dela Cruz will certainly not be playing in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, but she could be making her debut for the Farm Fresh Foxies towards the latter part of the year.
Foxies team manager Kiara Cruz shared the update during the PVL press conference held at the Discovery Suites Ortigas on Wednesday.
"I’m really setting it straight — Jolina won’t be able to play muna this conference. Of course, siyempre priority namin ‘yung health niya," shared Cruz.
The former F2 Logistics Cargo Movers outside hitter sustained a right anterior cruciate ligament knee injury in November before undergoing surgery in January.
The estimated time of recovery for an ACL injury generally takes eight to nine months, a factor Farm Fresh has been considering Dela Cruz's return to action.
"Maybe timeline namin sa kanya, third conference of this year. Siguro by then, pwede na siya," Cruz disclosed.
The Foxies though already knew this in signing Dela Cruz after the disbandment of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
Despite missing the services of one of their prized acquisition, the Foxies remain upbeat ahead of the season-opening conference as they continue mastering the basics with Japanese mentor Master Shimizu.
"Surprisingly, sobrang bilis nilang nag-jell. It’s so easy for them since siguro they have kanya-kanyang experience with their own pro teams and they just all knew each other’s experiences. Parang sobrang dali in that way," Cruz said.
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The Foxies will be immediately put to the test against defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers on February 24, Saturday, 6 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It will be aired on One Sports, One Sports+, and the Pilipinas Live app.