PVL: Jolina Dela Cruz shines in return; Toring also back from injury
Jolina Dela Cruz stars for Farm Fresh in her first game in over a year.–PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Fit-again Jolina Dela Cruz shone brightly in her first game for the Farm Fresh Foxies as she finally returned to the PVL action after suffering an ACL injury over a year ago.
Dela Cruz hardly missed a beat, pouring in a game-high 20 points as Farm Fresh trounced winless Nxled, 25-22, 26-24, 25-21, in the resumption of the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
Playing at the same venue where she suffered a season-ending injury in the last tournament of 2023 with the defunct F2 Logistics, Dela Cruz felt jitters but her faith and confidence never wavered.
READ: PVL: Farm Fresh dumps Nxled behind Jolina Dela Cruz
Toring and Dela Cruz on their comeback. #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kpOemacTdH
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) January 18, 2025
“Pagpasok ko kanina, nagpe-pray lang ako kasi sabi ko dito ako na-injure sa Philsports. Kanina medyo nung dumidipensa ako, [inaalalayan] pa ako ni coach Bocboc kasi alam niya ‘yung nangyari sa akin dito last year,” said Dela Cruz. “Unti-unti nao-overcome ko ‘yung fear.”
There was a sense of fulfillment for the former La Salle star after spending the past year, rehabbing and observing her squad every game.
“Masaya na coming from an injury ang priority ko ngayon is maging healthy ako and lagi akong makasama sa training. Sana lagi akong maging present sa games,” said Dela Cruz.
“Nung sa sidelines, nung nakaraan nanonood lang kami. Actually, naging opportunity din sa amin na naging observer kami sa labas so nakikita namin kung paano ito paluin, ganito siguro dapat. Opportunity siya para makapagaral pa kami so halos one year din ‘yun na nagaaral kami ni Lorene and ayun, sana nga ma-master pa namin,” she added.
Farm Fresh coach Benson Bocboc, who has been the coach of Dela Cruz in La Salle and F2 Logistics, was happy to see his longtime player back on the floor as well as the return of Lorene Toring.
Farm Fresh’s Lorene Toring is also back from an ACL injury.–PVL PHOTO
READ: PVL: Jolina Dela Cruz, Kianna Dy excited about impending return
“Pwede pa, meron pang ibubuga ito. So, nakita naman natin. At least, step by step. Small steps lang muna. Sabi ko naman sa kanila, pag hindi nila kaya, magsabi lang sila. Kaya binibigyan natin ng panahon para makapag-adjust saka yong oras sa court,” Bocboc said.
“Iba talaga pag galing ka sa off talaga. Mahirap makabalik. So, alalayan natin siya kasi sabi ko naman sa kanila, ang target natin dapat after five years naglalaro pa sila. So, dahan-dahan lang.”
Toring, whose final UAAP year with Adamson was wiped out by an ACL injury in practice, also felt good to resume her volleyball career in the PVL with her fellow ex-Lady Falcons Louire Romero, Trisha Tubu, Rizza Cruz, and Aprylle Tagsip.
“Sobrang happy kasi matagal ko na ‘to hinintay kami ni Jolina and gusto ko din talaga maglaro sa Farm Fresh kasi andoon yung mga previous kong teammates,” said Toring, who finished with three points. “Honestly, medyo kinakabahan kanina pero nung paunti unti na nakukuha na namin yung groove medyo tumataas na yung confidence namin, nagkakaconnection na kami with the setters and teammates.”
The young middle blocker is out to contribute her vocal demeanor to the young Foxies, who improved to a 3-3 record as they wait for Rachel Anne Daquis’ comeback.
“Yung pagiging vocal ko sa loob kasi mostly sa Farm Fresh mga nonchalant sila, hindi sila nagsasalita. Ayun yung way sa pagtulong ko sa team,” Toring said.
