Casiey Dongallo’s first go-round for the University of the Philippines Women’s Volleyball Team (WVT) is over, as the open hitter was confirmed to have ACL and meniscus tears in her left knee.
Dongallo will be sidelined for the rest of the year for surgery then recovery and will be hopefully good to go come UAAP Season 89 for the second of her three seasons of eligibility for the Fighting Maroons.
“She’s in a great mood. I’m surprised she never felt the desperation. She came to the (next) game, she comes to our training, still smiling,” said head coach Fabio Menta on his ward’s state of mind. “Now, we want to be optimistic. By late December or January next year, she’ll be training again. Hopefully.”
The Cebuana spiker sustained the injury in the first set of State U’s match against Far Eastern University last Sunday. After a bad landing following her fourth point, she lay crumpled on the mat before needing help to stand and make her way back to the dugout.
Prior to the unfortunate development, Dongallo was coming off her breakout performance in maroon-and-green, delivering 20 points in UP’s big-time triumph over two-time defending champion National U.
In the 20 year old’s absence, Jelai Gajero is expected to continue backstopping veterans Joan Monares and Irah Jaboneta in taking care of the open hitter position, as Nina Ytang will keep showing the way right at the net.
While Dongallo is undoubtedly a big piece to the puzzle, Menta was glad to share her teammates are ready and raring to step up, as the Fighting Maroons move forward in their bid to end a decade-long playoff drought.
“Casiey’s a big loss, but the girls understand they need to do more now to compensate,” he said. “The girls are ok. They’re working and hopefully, we find the right adjustments. We are preparing hard to do our best.”
UP finishes up the first round against Adamson on Sunday, looking to bounce back after back-to-back losses dragged its record down to 3-3.
