Injured Leila Cruz o the La Salle Lady Spikers bench. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Leila Cruz suffered an ACL injury in her right knee, ruling her out indefinitely for the remainder of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo bared that Cruz was diagnosed with an ACL injury after receiving her MRI result on Tuesday.
“Sad to say, she got an ACL [injury],” said Orcullo after their 30-28, 25-12, 28-26 victory over Far Eastern University on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We have to accept it. Although, she remains positive and accepted regardless of the outcome of her MRI,” he added in Filipino.
The opposite spiker injured her right knee after a bad landing in the first set of their second consecutive win over defending champion National University last Saturday.
La Salle’s Leila Cruz holds on to her injured right knee. –UAAP PHOTO
Cruz was able to return to their bench walking on her own but she was not in uniform during their recent game against the Lady Tamaraws.
The starting hitter scored 37 points in the first eight games and she was a top-10 blocker with 0.44 blocks per set.
Orcullo said they have to move on even though Cruz is “one of the vital parts” in the Lady Spikers’ title bid this season.
Jyne Soreno filled in the spot of Cruz, scoring four of her eight points in the third set against FEU.
JUST IN: La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo bares that Leila Cruz suffers an ACL injury. #UAAPSeason85 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/AmrUHNyaY6
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 29, 2023
Super rookie Angel Canino, who led the way with 16 points, 15 receptions, and 14 digs, admitted the team felt bad losing one of their teammates due to injury but she vows to keep on fighting for Cruz.
It’s heavy for us because she is our teammate. We take care of each other. But we have to keep on fighting for her,” Canino said in Filipino. “We won’t stop even if we feel bad. We will keep our emotions in check. We will show that we can still win even if we lost one player. This is for Ate Leila.”
La Salle won nine straight games, securing at least a playoff for a Final Four berth.
The Lady Spikers try to book a semifinal ticket when they battle the University of Santo Tomas Tigresses (6-3) on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.