New recruit Ivy Lacsina’s Nxled debut in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference would have to wait for at least a couple of weeks as she rests a minor right knee injury.
Lacsina is expected to sit out the Chameleons’ first few games in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference kicking off on 20 February and hopes to get back in action by March.
The versatile rising start had to skip the Chameleons’ pre-season tournament, 2024 Akari Invitational Cup, after hurting her knee during training.
“There are a lot things happening to me right now after suffering a knee injury,” Lacsina told reporters Wednesday following Nxled’s third place finish in the short competition held at the Adamson University gym.
The 6-foot-2 transferee from the disbanded F2 Logistics watched from the sidelines as the Chameleons beat Ateneo de Manila University, 16-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-17, to salvage bronze.
“(My injury) is getting better because Nxled and our PTs (physical therapists) are taking good care of me. And also as a player I do extra work to recover as quickly as possible,” Lacsina said.
“I’m trying to catch up with the team’s preparation but at the same time coach Taka (Minowa) allows me to do standing spikes, service (drills) and passing. But I’m confident I would be able to catch up.”
Although her exact time of return remains up in the air, Lacsina is confident she’ll be back soon.
“There’s still some little pain but the doctors said that I’ll be able to return soon but I don’t want to rush it,” she said.
“My timeline (of possible return) is around March but will still depend on my progress. It’s better now and I’m confident that I’ll be back after missing our first few games.”
The Chameleons finished their maiden run in last year’s 2nd All-Filipino Conference with a 4-7 win-loss record.