11 months since suffering a second ACL injury, Des Cheng is feeling all the emotions as she makes her return for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Almost a year after her second ACL injury, Des Cheng is finally back and ready to compete for the Choco Mucho Flying Titans for the upcoming 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Cheng should provide a much-needed boost for the Flying Titans, who took a step down and finished 9th in the 2024 Reinforced Conference.
The 28-year-old outside hitter admitted that the recovery process was not easy, but she remains grateful to be back on the court once more.
“It’s hard, sa totoo lang, ‘yung pagbabalik. I mean like nag-start ulit ako sa skills training. Mahirap siya, nakakatakot, lahat ng emotions nafe-feel ko because second ACL ko na din siya so it’s not that easy bumalik dun sa dati,” Cheng told One Sports.
“Now, I’m fully recovered. Thank God. Grumaduate na ako last month pa so I’m back to training, doing transition kasama na ‘yung buong team, so medyo excited na kinakabahan pa rin ako,” she added.
A big challenge for Cheng will be the mental side of recovering from an injury, especially with how she experienced her second right ACL tear.
“Hindi ko rin alam paano ako naka-recover mas faster. Hindi ko sinasabing easier pero I think it’s the environment na who I’m with like sino mga kasama ko, sino ‘yung mga kinakausap ko, and kung kanino lang ako nakikinig,” Cheng emphasized.
“This time, it’s much stronger mind and ‘yung eagerness ko na makabalik na on track and maayos na recovery nandun also,” she added.
[ALSO READ: Des Cheng perfectly sums up roller coaster two-year ride with Choco Mucho]
While all eyes will be on Choco Mucho’s bounce-back campaign as they eye their first championship run in the league, Cheng will be focused on her personal goals on her first conference back.
“Hindi ko siya masyadong iniisip for now [‘yung championship aspirations.] Selfish man pero parang mas gusto ko munang [isipin] kung anong kaya kong i-contribute sa team now,” said Cheng.
“Hindi ko pine-pressure yung self ko na kailangan ganito ganyan. Kung hanggang saan lang ako kakayanin, kung hanggang saan lang kaya ng katawan and skills ko, dun muna ako tutulong sa team,” she added.