By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Former De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers superstar Jolina Dela Cruz will be absent in the whole first conference of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) after undergoing a successful knee surgery.
The outside spiker decided to go under the knife after suffering a partial tear on her right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Despite signing a fresh contract with the Farm Fresh Foxies after her mother franchise F2 Logistics Cargo Movers disbanded in the PVL, Dela Cruz and the rest of the coaching staff mutually agreed to delay her debut this February.
Dela Cruz’s unfortunate injury happened last November 2023 during F2 Logistics’ intense matchup against the PLDT High-Speed Hitters.
As Dela Cruz went for a dig after a PLDT cross-court spike, the uprising spiker went down and grimaced in pain while holding her right knee.
After the incident, Dela Cruz then missed F2 Logistics’ remaining regular season games in the PVL and failed to help her team salvage a final qualification spot for the playoffs.
Without Dela Cruz at the beginning of Farm Fresh’s campaign in the 2024 PVL season, the squad will have to rely on former Choco Mucho hitter Caitlyn Viray and former Adamson standout Trisha Tubu.
Backstopping Dela Cruz, Viray, and Tubu are Pia Ildefonso, Louie Romero, Alyssa Bertolano, and Kate Santiago.
Aside from Dela Cruz and Viray, Farm Fresh also hauled Elaine Kasilag, Chinnie Arroyo, Jaycel Delos Reyes, Julia Angeles, Anj Legacion, Ypril Tapia, and Janel Delerio.
They replaced Mycah Go, Michelle Gamit, Gayle Pascual, Jessa Dorog, Cloanne Mondoñedo, Zam Nolasco, and Jade Gentapa.
