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[av_heading heading=’ACL tear takes Gonzaga off 2018 PSL Grand Prix ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Cignal HD Spikers star Jovelyn Gonzaga was set to miss time after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on her right knee during the 2017 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix last month.
HD Spikers head coach George Pascua said the Jordan, Guimaras native will miss three to four months – effectively ruling her out in the early part of the 2018 Philippine Superliga Grand Prix season in February.
Pascua added that the magnetic resonance imaging procedure on the national women’s volleyball team mainstay was delayed as the doctors had to let the swelling go away first.
“This is a major blow to us as we prepare for the Grand Prix,” Pascua told Volleyverse. “We know Jovelyn plays a crucial role in our rotation, and we have to be very creative in filling the void left by her absence.”
“She (Gonzaga) works so hard in practice and in games,” Pascua added. “But more than that, she’s mentally tough. She’s very positive and remains optimistic that she can get back in shape sooner than expected.”
The Ilongga opposite spiker sustained the injury in the third set of HD Spikers’ 25-22, 25-13, 25-21 defeat to Grand Prix champions F2 Logistics Cargo Movers on Nov. 21.
Aside from Gonzaga, other who could not play for HD Spikers in the upcoming season were Janine Marciano, who also sustained a knee injury, Mylene Paat, and Maica Morada, who left for Australia.
“We have no solid plan yet but we are looking at hiring an opposite and an open spiker as imports,” Pascua said.
“Let’s see. Anything is possible,” he added. “Despite all these injuries, we will make sure to come up with a fighting unit on the floor.”/PN
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