Kianna Dy and Jolina Dela Cruz are hoping to finally make their long-awaited return in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The wait continues for the return of PLDT’s Kianna Dy and Farm Fresh’s Jolina Dela Cruz following their respective knee injuries.
Amid the ongoing 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, Dy and Dela Cruz admitted that they have yet to pinpoint an exact timeline for their return to the taraflex.
“As of now, hindi kami nagbibigay ng target date,” Dela Cruz told reporters during the sidelines of the PVL's partnership press conference with Watsons Philippines at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
“Kasi it’s hard to expect na we give a date and then biglang may mangyari and then we can’t play, so surprise nalang,” Dy said.
Dela Cruz had been out since the tail-end of the 2023 All-Filipino Conference after an ACL injury.
Dy likewise has been out due to an ACL injury since the 2023 Invitational Conference.
The two talented spikers shared that they have been making some progress when it comes to training with their respective teams.
“Nakakasabay din naman sa bola pero hindi siya puwedeng biglain, so like take it easy lang talaga,” said Dela Cruz.
“I guess not the same intensity as the players who are playing right now, but yes court training,” Dy added.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Jolina Dela Cruz, Lorene Toring set timeline for injury returns with Farm Fresh Foxies]
The good news for the former F2 Logistics stars is that the longer format for the All-Filipino Conference is expected to last until May.
With this, teams have much longer breaks in between their matches, allowing players both sidelined with injuries and those playing to recover properly.
“Mas maganda siya especially sa amin [na] makakahabol talaga kami this season,” said Dela Cruz.
“That’s what’s good rin and not even for us, for all the players since the games aren’t close to each other so it’s good for the recovery of the other players also. The games before were like you will have Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, so it’s every other day, so that’s really hard to recover with that schedule but now that it’s longer, it’s better for everyone,” Dy added.
[ALSO READ: Kianna Dy has her patience tested during long injury recovery | Off the Record]
As the Foxies and High Speed Hitters await their return, Dela Cruz and Dy are excited to finally make their debut for their new teams at some point in the season.
“Of course, this is the longest I've been out and I'm very excited to spike my first game and help my team win,” said Dy.
“Never pa ako na-injure ng ganitong katagal like nag-stop ng ganitong katagal sa volleyball like kahit nung nasa La Salle wala din talaga ako naging injury, hindi ako nag-miss out ng training, especially ng games, so nakakapanibago yung ganito pero at the same time nakaka-excite bumalik,” Dela Cruz bared.