Lycha Ebon’s young and promising career has been derailed by an injury. Still, there is no question that she’s working her way back on track for the UAAP Season 82 Women’s Volleyball tournament.
“Para sa akin po kasi, ayaw ko may masayang akong taon dito. Lalo na hindi ako taga-Maynila, so ayaw ko masayang yung pagpunta ko dito,” bared the proud daughter of Davao.
“Kaya working hard ako sa recovery ko para makaabot talaga ako sa UAAP, at para makatulong din sa seniors ko na last playing rin nila ngayon. Madami-dami rin silang mawawala next year.”
Ebon is steadily recuperating from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury to her right knee. She sustained it in a UAAP match between her FEU Lady Tamaraws and the Adamson Lady Falcons earlier this year.
The lefty opposite spiker also disclosed that she already went under the knife last May and has been rehabilitating since then.
“Mag fo-four months palang po ako ngayon from operation,” she confided.
“Recovery pa rin po ako ngayon, rehab. May ilang months pa po kasi.”
Indeed, Ebon is still months away from being near a hundred percent. The timetable for her clearance to do strenuous activities runs until November — approximately six months after her operation.
“Kasi sa pagtalon, ilang months pa po yan. Parang sa six months ko, doon na daw pwede according sa phase na binigay sa amin ng doctor. Sinusunod lang namin ‘yung binigay ng doctor,” she bared.
So, the FEU sophomore is focusing on a training regimen that doesn’t put inordinate stress on her lower extremities — this, all the while conditioning her quads muscle.
“Yung hita, yung quads ko lumiit… So pinapakalakas pa namin ng coach, ng PT namin kasi medyo mahina pa. Ganyan naman daw lahat kapag na-injury daw kasi hindi daw nagagamit,” Ebon said. “Recovery pa po pero nakapapag-receive-receive, walling, ganun.
“Pero yung drills talaga, wala pa kasi nagfo-focus pa ako sa recovery.”
For FEU head coach George Pascua, he is hopeful that his prized spiker will be able to return to the playing field by the end of the year.
“Nasa progress naman yung pag improve ng injury niya,” stated Pascua. “Hopefully, by December, makakasabay na siya sa training sa team sa court.
“Sa ngayon, puro strength and conditioning siya.”
