For Joeven Dela Vega, stepping back on the court meant more than just another game — it marked the end of a long, exhausting road back to volleyball.
The PGJC-Navy veteran winger missed the entire Spikers’ Turf Open Conference earlier this year after being diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis with pleural effusion, a condition that caused fluid buildup in his lungs and left him unable to train for months.
“That time, na-find out na PTB plus pleural effusion, medyo malala na siya,” Dela Vega recalled.
“Na-surgery ako — VATS — tapos sabi ng doktor mga four to six months pa bago makabalik sa physical activity. Pero pinilit ko talaga sarili ko na makabalik agad.”
He was hospitalized for more than three weeks, shuttled between three different hospitals, and confined to a bed as his body wasted away. During that span, he lost more than 10 kilograms, stepping out of the hospital frail, weak, and unsure if he could ever play again.
“Para sa akin siguro ano eh, hindi ko rin ma-imagine na makabalik ako agad,” he said, showing reporters a photo of himself taken after surgery.
“Pero it took a lot of sacrifices kasi kumbaga, ‘yung matatawag mo na sobrang hirap pero nakaya mo naman. Pero thankful din ako na naka-recover ako kaagad for more than six months,” he added.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
But determination took over. Just a week after surgery, Dela Vega started working out again. Within two months, he was jogging — even if his body wasn’t fully ready.
At times, blood would still seep out from his surgical wound, but he pushed through, driven by his desire to return to the sport he loves.
“Yun nga, after nun, sabi ng doktor mga four to six months pa ako makaka-physical activity but pinilit ko ‘yung self ko na makabalik agad,” he shared.
On Wednesday night, the hard-hitting winger finally made his long-awaited return to the court. He suited up for his first official game in nearly a year as PGJC-Navy faced UST-Gameville in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena.
Now back in uniform, Dela Vega admits he’s still adjusting physically. He has also learned to carry an inhaler with him during games — a precaution he’s still getting used to.
“Excited saka blessed kasi kanina first game. Medyo mababa pa ‘yung performance pero ang mahalaga, nakabalik ako. Hopefully sa mga susunod na laro, maka-adapt na agad,” said De Vega, who finished with two points in the loss to the Golden Spikers.
His return might not have gone as smoothly as he hoped, but after months of recovery and frustration, simply being back on the floor was already a win of its own.
