Cyd Demecillo’s leg was literally crumbling just a few months ago.
During De La Salle University’s UAAP Season 78 campaign, the Cebuana had been playing through a stress fracture on her left tibia just to win a championship in her final year of college eligibility.
Stress fractures are fickle injuries. Constant wear and tear causes the bone to slowly fall apart. Any sudden movements could have led to a major injury, but Demecillo had the guts to power through and cap her career with a title.
After the UAAP season, Demecillo took time to recover from her injury. Still, along with her fellow La Sallians, Demecillo was included in F2 Logistics’ roster for the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference.
The 22-year-old seldom saw the court as she had been was fresh from a surgery that had reinforced her tibia with titanium. But, long before her surgery, Demecillo had already developed nerves and will as strong as titanium.
She showed her mettle in the championship-deciding Game Three. F2’s usual starting open hitter Cha Cruz had had trouble with reception and floor defense all series long.
For Game Three, F2 head coach Ramil de Jesus had decided that he would respond early if Cruz continued to struggle with ball control. Demecillo took Cruz’s place in the first set and valiantly pulled her weight in the back row, while trying her best to get past Foton’s blockers when she was in front.
She scored just six points but F2 came away with the championship. De Jesus declared that Demecillo swung the match to their favor.
“’Yung adjustment namin na si Demecillo [‘yung ginamit namin] – iyan siguro ‘yung naging key kanina.
“Ever since, ‘di ko siya ginagamit kaya hindi siguro nai-scout ng Foton. Hindi siya kita sa numbers, pero kilalang-kilala ko ‘yan si Cyd kaya alam kong kaya niya,” de Jesus gushed.
More than anything, Demecillo just tried to stay ready, reminding herself that there’s a reason she’s on the team.
“Nakaka-pressure kasi pakiramdam ko wala talaga akong experience sa PSL. Nag-Grand Prix ako dati pero iba kasi ‘tong All-Filipino – bagong adjustment. Nire-ready ko lang lagi ‘yung sarili. Basta ang goal ko lang isa makatulong sa team,” the opposite hitter told Tiebreaker Times.
“Mararamdaman mo ‘yun kung kailangan ka ng team. Lahat naman ng players na ni-lineup ni coach, may purpose sa team. ‘May maco-contribute ka, kaya ka nandiyan’ ‘yan ‘yung nasa isip ko lagi.”
Demecillo is also happy that she has been involved in another first for Ramil de Jesus, a coach who has accomplished nearly everything there is to achieve in local competition. Demecillo had paired with Kim Fajardo to give La Salle their first UAAP Women’s Beach Volleyball championship in Season 78.
Now, she’s also a part of de Jesus’ first PSL champion squad.
“Sobrang saya din kasi kasama ako sa mga unang nagbigay ng championship kay coach. Pati sa beach volley, ‘di ba? Nakaka-proud kasi kahit papaano may naitulong ako kay coach na marami nang naitulong para sa akin,” the two-time UAAP Season 78 gold medalist concluded.
