ILOCOS NORTE - Chery Tiggo's Arriane Layug has become stronger after a tough three years that saw her recover from a knee injury and waiting for volleyball's return this pandemic.
Layug, who suffered an ACL tear in 2018, made an impressive comeback helping the Crossovers to win their first two games in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center here in Bacarra.
It was a long and bumpy journey for the 24-year-old spiker as when the time she recovered, volleyball leagues were wiped out by the spike of Covid-19 cases last year.
"At first, mahirap kasi nung nagrerehab ako yung motivation ko is to play and then pandemic comes ayan nanaman magaadapt ka nanaman sa sistema like magtetraining sa zoom," Layug said. "Pero yung struggle na yun, siya din yung naging motivation to play now.
"Siyempre, yung rehab ko naman hindi lang physically pero mentally kailangan mo rin i-prepare. Tapang lang talaga and lakas ng loob."
Layug made an immediate impact for Chery Tiggo especially in its second game where she unloaded 15 points from 11 attacks, three aces, and a block to beat Cignal, 25-16, 25-13, 25-19, on Monday at the PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center.
The 5-foot-8 outside hitter averaged 12 points in her first two games back from a knee injury, including their three-set win over PLDT last Saturday.
But Layug's impressive return that helped Chery Tiggo took the early 2-0 lead doesn't stop her from working hard to be better every game.
"To be honest, hindi pa ako gaanong satisfied sa performance ko kasi every game naman kailangan meron pa ring i-improve. 'Yun lang din training and improve every game," she said.
Layug is always challenging herself to improve by looking at the great players around her like sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Manabat as well as Jasmine Nabor.
"It's an honor to play with them knowing Jaja and Ate Din and Jasmine na nag-represent na din ng Philippines so it's an honor na mging teammates ko din sila and matutunan ko din yung mga dapat ko pang matutunan sa kanila," Layug said.
"Ang masasabi ko lang siguro isa din kami sa babantayan, isa din kami sa titignan ng bawat team. Kailangan ng improvement pa rin, hindi pwedeng masatisfied."
