CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Jovelyn Gonzaga knows a thing or two in playing through immense fatigue.
Gonzaga is the only player who plays in the two major volleyball leagues in the Philippines and this dual duty makes the Army corporal play in as many as three days in a row.
The 27-year-old opposite spiker plays for Cignal in the Philippine Super Liga and for Pacifictown-Army in the Premier Volleyball League and on Wednesday, she just had her second match in two days with a third one coming onThursday.
Fortunately for Gonzaga, she’s 2-0 so far.
The HD Spikers overcame Petron in five sets, 25-20, 10-25, 16-25, 27-25, 15-11, in the PSL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday with Gonzaga contributing 15 points in the victory.
Another five-setter came her way with the Lady Troopers winning a marathon over Choco Mucho, 39-41, 19-25, 25-19, 25-20, 15-12 , in the PVL Open Conference in a grueling match that had Gonzaga winded.
“I’m exhausted but I have a high morale right now and that’s the attitude I have right now,” said Gonzaga in Filipino. “I’m not thinking of anything right now, I just want to play.”
“If we lost, for sure this fatigue would be worse, but we’re winning so it’s a great feeling.”
Gonzaga has another match on Thursday when Cignal takes on Petron in a do-or-die for a finals berth.
Gonzaga is allowed to play in two leagues since she’s a uniformed personnel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines that makes her an employee of the Philippine Army while Cignal is her mother club.
“I always tell myself that playing this hard is my way of giving back because coach (Kung Fu Reyes) has been so understanding of my situation,” said Gonzaga, who had 24 points against the Flying Titans.
“He doesn’t make me exert too much effort in training so the way I play is how I return the favor.”