Sometimes the hardest battles happen far from the court. Faith Nisperos learned that the hard way.
The setback came just before the quarterfinals of the 2024–25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, when Nisperos injured her knee at the worst possible time.
Determined to push through, she suited up despite the pain and helped Akari advance deep into the tournament — only for her body to finally give out before the bronze-medal series.
What was meant to be a final push became a turning point. The injury ultimately forced Nisperos to sit out the remainder of the conference, watching from the sidelines as the Chargers battled for a podium finish without her.
It was a short-term sacrifice that came at a long-term cost — one that pulled her away from the game she loved so much that she chose to endure pain rather than sit out.
“So, back in the last All-Filipino Conference, I was already injured during the quarterfinals. Even before nung quarterfinals, I was already starting to feel pain in my knee, and then I decided to play through it,” said the former Ateneo star.
“Ayun, at least we got the bronze but ‘yun nga, ‘yung kapalit I was nine months out,” she added, as the Chargers managed to pull through despite her absence and clinch bronze at the expense of Choco Mucho.
Once the conference ended, the toll became unavoidable. Medical evaluations confirmed what her body had already been telling her, and Nisperos was sidelined completely — missing the next three conferences.
For the first time in her career, she faced a long rehabilitation process, entering unfamiliar territory after years of relying on her body.
“It’s my first time getting injured for that long, and I didn’t know how to handle it,” Nisperos said.
“Kaya it took a lot of effort for me to find ways to process and accept that this was my situation,” she added.
The days slowed down. Practices were replaced by rehab sessions, game film by physical therapy routines. While her teammates continued the grind of competition, Nisperos fought a quieter battle on the sidelines.
What anchored her was the people around her. Family, teammates, coaches, and medical staff formed a steady circle of reassurance, reminding her that recovery was not a race but a commitment.
Nisperos said their presence filled the void left by volleyball, reinforcing that she was not going through the process alone, even when progress felt minimal.
(C) PVL Images
“Malaking tulong din na I had a support system — like my boyfriend, who always reminded me that this is part of the journey, and some of my teammates who checked in on me every day. Lalo nila akong mino-motivate na, ‘Onti na lang, Faith, kaya mo ’yan’,” said the 5-foot-11 winger.
“My family, of course, and some of my friends also constantly reached out. Kaya having a support system, sobrang halaga,” she added.
Beyond physical healing, Nisperos learned valuable lessons during her time off the court.
Among them was the importance of asking for help: admitting when she was struggling, leaning on those around her, and allowing herself to process the emotional and mental toll of the injury.
“I also learned to ask for help when hindi ko na kinakaya, kapag medyo nada-down ako, or when I get overwhelmed by emotions — you just have to let it out. Eventually, I accepted it, and here we are,” said the two-time UAAP Juniors MVP.
To stay focused, Nisperos turned the waiting into something tangible. She counted the days, each one a reminder that the setback had an endpoint.
Last Saturday marked the 295th day since her injury, a milestone that came with her long-awaited debut back on the court, finally stepping onto the floor and rejoining Akari to start the 2026 All-Filipino Conference.
Nisperos came off the bench and didn’t see much action, but just being on the court was a victory in itself.
“Syempre ito na ‘yung fruit ng labor ko e. Imagine 295 days, talagang binilang ko ‘yan. I was hoping, I was looking for that one day na I’ll be back on the court so yeah, I’m really happy and blessed,” she said.
While she admitted she’s not yet at a hundred percent, Nisperos was glad that the long countdown was finally over.
The 295 days of uncertainty, rehab, and mental struggle had culminated in this moment, serving as a testament to her resilience and unyielding love for the game.
#WATCH: I’M BACK 🏐
Faith Nisperos is grateful to be back with Akari after missing the last nine months due to injury#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/maXTCykkRA
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2026 pic.twitter.com/AY1ykmntxZ
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) January 31, 2026
