Cess Robles returned to her smashing ways on Saturday against the University of the Philippines.
The 5-foot-5 outside hitter was limited to being a service specialist in National University’s straight sets loss to De La Salle University last week and was held scoreless.
“Si Princess kasi namamaga yung tuhod niya and kanina morning pa lang umiiyak na siya. Pwede naman namin siya palaruin, call naman pero same din, hindi namin pwedeng isakripisyo kasi for this game,” explained Lady Bulldogs head coach Karl Dimaculangan last week.
“Second round kasi, inisip namin kung hanggang saan kami, hanggang dulo? Yun yung rason na nilimit talaga namin na hindi talaga siya maglaro.
“Ipapa-check na namin siya by Monday para maassess nang mabuti talaga ng doctor kung anong problem sa tuhod niya, kung bakit namamaga,” he continued.
But the 23-year-old Ilongga proved that it was nothing serious as she scored 11 points on 10 attacks against the Fighting Maroons to announce her comeback. Robles allayed fears about her condition, revealing what happened to her knee and what she did during their week-long preparation for UP.
“Sa meniscus ko po, parang nabigla lang sa training, namaga. Ngayon, okay na po,” shared Robles after NU defeated UP, 25-21, 27-25, 25-20.
“Nagtrabaho talaga ako sa injury ko kasi gusto ko talagang makalaro na kaya nag-double time ako para makalaro ako ngayong game.”
Robles’ return was much-needed for NU after stumbling twice to the Lady Spikers, dropping their record to 5-3 and just fourth in the league.
More than her production in the stat sheet, it was the captain’s leadership that steadied the ship for the Lady Bulldogs and led them back to the win column.
“Kanina kasi sabi ko sa kanila nung first round four sets kami ng UP. So nag-set kami ng goal na kailangan this time, straight sets lang kung kaya,” said Robles.
“Nakita namin yung improvement namin talagang nitong past few days tinrabaho talaga namin kung ano yung kulang namin and preparation for UP.”
