By: Ernest Tuazon
Playing in an organized game for the first time in a year, Jelai Gajero was assigned a defensive specialist role as she aims to regain her peak offensive form for the University of the East in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge.
Gajero, who tore her left ACL during the same pre-season tournament last September, made her long-awaited comeback on the Taraflex on Wednesday night.
The Lady Warriors made headlines by shocking the reigning NCAA champions, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, to kick off their title bid.
“Pang seventh month pa lang po ngayon, so less muna yung jumping. Pero tumatalon na po ako, pero ‘pag sa games, marami kasing instances na hindi natin alam so linilimit muna yung talon,” the California Precision Academy standout told Tiebreaker Times.
Despite returning to the same venue where she sustained the injury that kept her out of UAAP Season 86 action, Gajero felt confident as she prepared for her volleyball return due to the key role assigned to her by UE.
Gajero saw limited playing time in the Lady Warriors’ sweep of the fellow Strong Group Athletics-backed team, Lady Blazers, being inserted late in the first and fourth sets.
“Wala naman masyadong kaba since hindi naman ako tatalon ulit, so more on floor defense and getting used to the court ulit. Tinatry ko lang yung best ko, kung saan ako makakatulong, go lang go,” the Naga City native said.
In her limited playing time, UE assistant coach Obet Vital admitted that the 19-year-old wing spiker made a ‘big difference’ in her return to collegiate volleyball.
(C) V-League Images
“She’s not fully in; we’re just injecting her, and so far, she made a big difference in the little time she was on the court: she got a pancake, she made a couple of dive digs, and had nice servings. She’s starting to come back,” Vital added.
As the Lady Warriors look ahead to their future games in the V-League and the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament, Gajero is thrilled to be teaming up once again with Casiey Dongallo.
Dongallo is currently sidelined due to a wrist injury, the same injury that forced her to step away from her national team duties with Alas Pilipinas women.
“Very excited ako kasi mararanasan na ulit namin na nasa court kaming dalawa,” Gajero said.
