Soldier-athlete Jovelyn Gonzaga. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Jovelyn Gonzaga had been away from the sport of volleyball for nearly two years but that absence didn’t diminish her confidence in her team in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
The 27-year-old opposite spiker was regarded as the best in her position before she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in late 2017, and in her return, she is still eager to prove that the Philippines Army Lady Troopers still have that mystique.
“We’ve gotten used here in the Philippine Army that we always go to the latter stages of tournaments, and we really expected that we will always play great volleyball,” said Gonzaga, who also plays for Cignal in the Philippine Super Liga, in Filipino Wednesday.
“We win championships, and in turn, we get promoted to higher ranks.”
But the Lady Troopers are in danger of finishing in fourth place after a 25-27, 10-25, 27-25, 26-24, 16-14 heartbreak to BanKo Perlas in Game 1 of the bronze medal series, where they lost a 2-0 set lead.
“Right now I’m hurt and I really can’t think straight because I really regret the loss,” said Gonzaga, who had six points for the Lady Troopers. “My mindset is always to give my team the help it needs and I know I have to step up for our next game.”
Gonzaga, who is a corporal in the Philippine Army, has won four MVPs in her club career—two each from the PVL and PSL.
Game 2 of the battle for bronze is on Saturday.