Arellano University had a gaping hole in their rotation when they faced the Lyceum of the Philippines University Lady Pirates in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference, Saturday.
Besides back-up setter Donna Paralejas, who had an allergy attack, ace spiker Regine Arocha, Carla Donato, and Jehan Hussain also did not play in the match.
Apparently, the injury bug has plagued Arellano.
According to head coach Obet Javier, Arocha sustained an ankle injury after their straight-set drubbing of TIP last Sunday.
“Medyo meron siyang iniinda sa paa kaya pinagpahinga na lang muna. Hindi pa namin alam kung ano talaga yung ano niya eh. Hindi ko matandaan kung sa kanan o kaliwa, pero sa ankle,” he said.
Meanwhile, Donato and Hussain yielded to injury a day before their second match. The former suffered an injury to her left hand, while the latter incurred one on her right knee.
“Kay Donato, kamay. Natamaan kahapon yung left hand niya, medyo sumakit eh,” Javier recalled. “Inadvise-an ng doktor na ‘wag na palaruin.
“Titignan pa namin kung ano talaga, pero sana sprain lang. Pero ‘pag may fracture, baka hindi na siya makalaro ng PVL.”
He then disclosed Hussain’s case, saying: “Sa tuhod, right. Hindi pa namin siya napapa-check, pero malamang hindi na namin magagamit kasi ayaw ko naman ipilit yung bata na may nararamdaman. Baka ‘di pa namin siya mapakinabangan sa NCAA.”
Javier admitted he expects all three of his injured players to miss Arellano’s next game against FEU on Saturday, August 31. He also included Paralejas in the list of the potential absentees.
Given the circumstance, the Arellano mentor acknowledges the risks of fielding relatively young players in lieu of veterans.
Still, despite the unfortunate situation, he believes that it will only prepare them more for their bid for a fourth straight title in the NCAA Season 95 Women’s Volleyball tournament.
“Nakakatakot kasi nakita natin na bata yung tinaya mo. Iba pa rin talaga kapag senior yung nakataya,” Javier bared.
“Ang kagandahan, nabibigyan yung mga bata ng playing time sa ngayon. Tutal malayo pa naman yun season namin, maganda na rin yung nakakalaro yung freshmen.”
