Ateneo de Manila University continues to face challenges in their UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament campaign as injuries pile up.
Ahead of the Blue Eagles’ penultimate first-round match against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, head coach Sergio Veloso confirmed that outside hitter Sobe Buena will most likely miss the remainder of the season.
Buena, a third-year spiker from Assumption Antipolo, suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) following a freak injury during Ateneo’s match against University of Santo Tomas last Sunday at the same Pasay venue.
The injury occurred when Ateneo trailed 15-21 in the opening set. Buena awkwardly landed on her right leg after attempting a crosscourt hit, immediately signaling distress.
Before the injury, Buena had been a consistent performer for the injury-riddled Blue Eagles. She tallied a total of 36 points on 32 attacks, two blocks, and two aces in five games.
“Now we need to wait a little more time, but probably she cannot play,” Veloso shared. “When we reviewed the video, we saw that when she jumped, she landed only on her left leg instead of both. When she turned her leg and her knee, it caused some damage that compromised her ACL.
“If the ACL is compromised, we cannot risk pushing her to play again. Sometimes, players can be eager to return, but it’s not a good idea if it jeopardizes their future. The most important thing now is her recovery. She needs time, and I think she probably cannot play this season.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Buena’s season-ending injury is the latest setback for the Blue Eagles, who have already lost Zel Tsunashima and Jlo Delos Santos to serious injuries this season.
With multiple key players sidelined, concerns emerged online about Ateneo’s conditioning program. However, Veloso emphasized that these incidents are unfortunate accidents that are sometimes inevitable in a high-level league like the UAAP.
“These are accidents, and in my whole career, I’ve always focused on prevention,” Veloso explained. “Our plan starts with working hard on physical training to minimize injury risks. The team is strong, and they played very well, but these things can still happen in high-level sports. Unfortunately, it’s never happened like this in my career.”
Veloso stressed that refining players’ techniques is equally vital in injury prevention.
“When you play at a high level, those little details in technique make a big difference. Because when you’re constantly pushing your limits, everything matters — your body, your conditioning, and your technique. Improving technique can help prevent some injuries, but unfortunately, we can’t control everything,” he concluded.
