Cignal's Gonzaga sets sights on PSL return

MANILA, Philippines — The six-month military training of Jovelyn Gonzaga is finally over.

But she won’t be seeing action in the Philippine Superliga – at least for now.

The hard-hitting lefty from Guimaras revealed that she’s still in the process of rehabilitation after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury in the Grand Prix last year.

Gonzaga said her earliest return would be next year when the league opens its Grand Prix.

“For now, I’m still undergoing rehab,” said Gonzaga, who paid a visit in Cignal’s training the other day after stepping out of a grueling Candidate Soldier Course in Capas, Tarlac last week.

“I can now walk properly and the pain is gone. But I want to be sure and play at full strength as much as possible so I want to sit out this conference and be back early next year.”

HD Spikers’ head coach Edgar Barroga confirmed her statement, saying that Gonzaga’s earliest return would be next year.

“Although she showed up, she’s still negative to play,” said Barroga, who steered the HD Spikers to a third-place finish in the recent PSL Invitationals.

“I think the earliest she would play will be next year.”

Aside from spending a huge chunk of her time doing rehab, Gonzaga said she would also cheer for her Army teammates in the Armed Forces of the Philippines starting Thursday as well as attend to her military duties.

She added that she couldn’t wait to see action and be reunited again with teammates, especially Mylene Paat, who made heads turn with her impressive performance in the Asian Games and the AVC Asian Women’s Cup the past couple of weeks.

“She’s so amazing,” she said of Paat, probably the most underrated in this batch of national team members.

“I’m not surprise of her success. She’s not afraid to ask questions and continue to learn the game. I’m so proud of her achievement and I’m looking forward to playing with her again.”

he six-month military training of Jovelyn Gonzaga is finally over.

But she won’t be seeing action in the Philippine Superliga – at least for now.

The hard-hitting lefty from Guimaras revealed that she’s still in the process of rehabilitation after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the Grand Prix last year.

Gonzaga said her earliest return would be next year when the league opens its Grand Prix.

“For now, I’m still undergoing rehab,” said Gonzaga, who paid a visit in Cignal’s training the other day after stepping out of a grueling Candidate Soldier Course in Capas, Tarlac last week.

“I can now walk properly and the pain is gone. But I want to be sure and play at full strength as much as possible so I want to sit out this conference and be back early next year.”

HD Spikers’ head coach Edgar Barroga confirmed her statement, saying that Gonzaga’s earliest return would be next year.

“Although she showed up, she’s still negative to play,” said Barroga, who steered the HD Spikers to a third-place finish in the recent PSL Invitationals.

“I think the earliest she would play will be next year.”

Aside from spending a huge chunk of her time doing rehab, Gonzaga said she would also cheer for her Army teammates in the Armed Forces of the Philippines starting Thursday as well as attend to her military duties.

She added that she couldn’t wait to see action and be reunited again with teammates, especially Mylene Paat, who made heads turn with her impressive performance in the Asian Games and the AVC Asian Women’s Cup the past couple of weeks.

“She’s so amazing,” she said of Paat, probably the most underrated in this batch of national team members.

“I'm not surprised of her success. She’s not afraid to ask questions and continue to learn the game. I’m so proud of her achievement and I’m looking forward to playing with her again.”