Ms. Everything is back.
But returning winger Cha Cruz-Behag wants to take it slow as she made her comeback to competitive volleyball after a four-year sabbatical.
She provided quality minutes for F2 Logistics in her first stint in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference but Behag admitted that it will take time before she could get back to her old form.
“Personally, it’s a process. It won’t happen overnight that I’ll be back to the same playing form as before after four years of absence. I know I committed a lot of errors (during the game),” Behag said following the Cargo Movers’ 25-22, 25-21, 14-25, 20-25, 16-14, win over PLDT Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Behag took a leave of absence after suffering a shoulder injury during the 2019 Grand Prix of the defunct Philippine Superliga. She opted to concentrate on her role as mother and wife since then before deciding to get back into the sport.
The 34-year-old hitter entered the game midway through the third set as a substitute. She finished with three points and her leadership kept the team together during the crucial stretch of the extended fifth set.
Head coach Regine Diego, who made a successful debut, lauded the veteran’s intangible contributions to the squad especially in the deciding frame.
“Well of all the people in F2, the longest that I’ve been with were Cha and Aby (Maraño). So, I trust that they know what to do, because they’re mature already. They have the leadership skills,” Diego said.
Diego was teammates with Cruz and Maraño in De La Salle University and last played with the duo back in 2009-10 during the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 72.
Cruz started in the fifth set and provided stability inside the court especially in the closing stretch where the Cargo Movers needed to save a match point before turning things around.
“I was correct in putting them in during the crucial points. I know they will lead. Because if we have good leaders inside, the team will play well. So, I’m happy I have so many leaders in my team now,” Diego said.
Still, Cruz admitted that she has a lot of catching up to do.
“I think I still need to double-time every day, which is I’m really trying my best every training session to get back to my old form,” she said.
