Chiara Permentilla relishes return after long, excruciating road to recovery

Chiara Permentilla played her best game so far for Akari since coming back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear on her left knee that sidelined her for almost four years, Tuesday night.

Permentilla flirted with a triple-double and finished with 13 points, all from attacks, along with 10 excellent receptions and eight digs to power the Chargers’ 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19 against Army-Black Mamba, their first in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena.

“It feels good to be back on the court. It feels good na you know, I went through a long journey, a long process na at first I was just on the sidelines and then parang unti-unti nakakabalik na ko sa court and na-lineup na ako and ngayon nakakalaro na ako ulit,” said Permentilla.

“I fought for this. It’s been so long, talagang pinagtrabahuhan ko ‘to na makabalik ulit so I’m very, very happy and I’m proud of myself.”

The former Adamson University standout tore her left ACL last 2019 when she was still playing for Marinerang Pilipina in the defunct Philippine Super Liga. She made her long-awaited return to the taraflex when the Chargers went up against F2 Logistics last February 12.

Permentilla has since played in Akari’s last three games in the All-Filipino Conference and has played a crucial part in coach Jorge Souza de Brito’s rotation, averaging 7.0 points per game for the 1-3 Chargers.

Souza de Brito lauded Permentilla, who joined the newest PVL team last year, for her effort and determination throughout her recovery process.

“She was perfect. As she said to you guys, she was injured for two years. Coming back to the sidelines, recovering from the last season but she was there every single day. If the guys have a day off, she was still there training just focusing on the next step, the next level,” said the Brazilian head coach.

“She proved to herself and to everyone that she’s really, really [eager to comeback] she trusted herself, she trusted the process and now she’s here with us. Congrats on that, she never gave up.”