It's been a long 14 months for Maddie Madayag.
But all the hardwork, patience, and perseverance finally paid off when she made her return to her home - the volleyball taraflex.
The 5-foot-11 middle blocker out of Ateneo de Manila University was forced to stay away from the sport for that long after tearing her left ACL on August 11, 2021 during Choco Mucho's Premier Volleyball League Open Conference battle for third clash with Petro Gazz in the Bacarra "bubble".
On Saturday evening, Flying Titans head coach Oliver Almadro inserted "Madzilla" to serve in their 25-27, 25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15 triumph over PLDT in the 2022 Reinforced Conference.
“Syempre I’m happy and at the same time excited na I get to play inside with the team again. Grateful din ako na all that hard work nung one year akong out naging worth it naman,” shared Madayag, who trooped to the service line during the third and fifth sets.
“Even though serve lang yung ginawa ko malaking bagay na rin yun. Lahat naguumpisa sa serve at least I get to help the team in any way I can,” added the 2018 PVL Open Conference 1st Best Middle Blocker.
Madayag, though, tempers the expectations this early, citing that she is yet to reach 100 percent and fans will still have to wait before they see her monster blocks.
But as a leader, she will do whatever the team needs to get wins in the season-ending conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.
“I actually accepted my role na for this conference na it’s not to play but to support the team in any way I can like sa service if kailangan ng serve and defense sa likod, ‘yun ‘yung gagawin ko,” said Madayag, who tore her right ACL back in 2016.
“I’m always ready naman to play kung kailan ako tatawagin ni coach magiging ready lang talaga ako palagi.”
