The last time Kat Tolentino stepped on the PVL Taraflex was back on January 18, 2025.
During Choco Mucho’s gritty comeback win over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, where the Flying Titans eked out a 20-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 15-9 victory, Tolentino came off the bench and played only in the first three sets.
Something was not right.
Two days later, she was diagnosed with a ruptured appendix, sidelining her for the rest of the All-Filipino Conference and the entirety of the On Tour games.
“I guess I had no choice but to be patient and to just wait until I was ready,” said the 30-year-old spiker who was raised in Vancouver.
Her patience would be tested once more after a tough 2024 that also saw her miss games due to an auditory problem.
But having weathered numerous setbacks in her career, Tolentino already knew the blueprint for bouncing back.
(C) PVL Images
On Tuesday, she made a triumphant return for Choco Mucho, powering in 15 points and collecting 11 digs in the Flying Titans’ razor-thin 33-31, 26-24, 25-23 sweep of Bella Belen and the Capital1 Solar Spikers.
For her, just being back on the court is already a victory in itself.
“Being able to contribute is also a plus, but I know there’s still more I can give, and it was really a team effort, and I love it,” she expressed.
Now that she has officially returned, Tolentino is eager to do even more for Choco Mucho as a way of repaying the patience and support the franchise has given her.
“I was thankful to Coach Dante (Alinsunurin) and the team, that they welcomed me back with open arms. It took a long time, I know, but I had to make sure that I was mentally and physically healthy and ready to come back a hundred percent,” said the 2021 Open Conference Best Opposite Spiker.
“I didn’t want it to be something that I felt forced to do and I’m just really happy to be back.”
