PLDT’s Kianna Dy and Farm Fresh’s Jolina Dela Cruz view the extended format of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference as a major advantage for their recovery journeys, with the possibility of making their long-awaited debuts for their respective teams.
Neither Dy nor Dela Cruz has played a single game for the High Speed Hitters or the Foxies, as both athletes sustained injuries last year while still with the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers.
The 29-year-old Dy last played in the PVL on July 20, 2023, during F2’s five-set loss to Creamline in the Invitational Conference semifinals. She injured her right knee in the fourth set, and since then, she has been sidelined for over a year.
Similarly, the 25-year-old Dela Cruz tore her right knee in the Cargo Movers’ final match of the 2023 Second AFC before undergoing surgery in January.
(C) PVL Images
“Mas maganda siya na five to six months long (ang conference) especially sa amin like makakahabol din kami this season, hindi rin naman kami nira-rush,” Dela Cruz shared.
Dy echoed this sentiment, saying, “That’s what’s good [na hindi kami nira-rush] and not even for us, for all the players since the games aren’t dikit-dikit, close to each other, so it’s better for the recovery of the other players also.”
She continued, “The games before, you will have Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, every other day, so it’s really hard to recover with that schedule but now that it’s longer, it’s better for everyone.”
The two De La Salle University products were at the Philsports Arena on Tuesday afternoon as ambassadors for Watsons during the brand’s ceremonial contract signing with the PVL. The partnership will last until the end of the conference—at least for now.
After long layoffs, both players are eager to return to the PVL arena, this time with new teammates.
“It’s kind of exciting also because I’ve been playing with people I’m familiar with [before], like sina Jolina, ‘yung mga F2 teammates. It’s a new scene to be playing with others, so I’m really excited to play with Savi [Davison], Kath [Arado], ate Fio [Ceballos], ‘yung mga hindi ko pa nakakalaro,” Dy said, reflecting on her new team.
Dela Cruz added, “Of course, gusto namin tulungan yung team namin as much as possible, pero ang mahe-help lang namin nasa side lang din kami, giving them [advice] kung ano makakatulong na pwede namin sabihin sa kanila.”
While the recovery process has been long, the two athletes have had strong support from their partners—both of whom are also athletes.
Dy is with Gilas Pilipinas star Dwight Ramos, while Dela Cruz is with Barangay Ginebra sharpshooter Ralph Cu.
(C) FIBA.Basketball
“Dwight’s one of the persons na nagpu-push talaga sa’kin na kaya ko, na I can do stuff that I feel like I can’t do. It’s really good that he understands what I’m going through also. Siya rin na-injure, so we’re helping each other get back,” Dy shared.
Dela Cruz expressed similar gratitude for her partner, saying, “Kay Ralph naman, lagi naman niya ako nireremind na tuloy lang. Sayang yung progress kung hihinto pa kami and malapit na rin eh. Ang sinasabi lang din ni Ralph palagi na babalik ka din sa dati or baka mas okay pa. Pinupush naman nila kami palagi na mas mag-improve pa talaga.”
