Kim Kianna Dy finally made her long-awaited return to the PVL after a 559-day hiatus due to an injury. Her comeback on Tuesday night was a momentous event for her and the fans, marking the end of a challenging period.
“[I am] super excited. I haven’t played the game for [more than] a year now,” Dy said, after being called into action in the fourth set of the High Speed Hitters’ 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 25-22 win over Cignal at the PhilSports Arena.
Her return to the court came as a surprise even to herself, as coach Rald Ricafort had only planned to gradually reintegrate the skilled hitter from La Salle. With PLDT now pushing for the best playoff spot possible, Ricafort eased Dy back into action.
“Actually, she wasn’t supposed to [make her] return today, because she was only able to train hard on back-to-back days for the first time,” Ricafort said. “We are incorporating her slowly. But we were able to test her out this early and we’re happy that she is slowly coming back.”
Dy injured her right knee while playing for the now-defunct F2 Logistics in July 2023. Despite uncertainty regarding her recovery timeline, PLDT took a chance on her.
“We’ve been very patient with her long recovery. It’s not just a judgment to not field her in, it was a really complicated and difficult process that even she has gotten impatient at times,” Ricafort explained. “But I really want her to come back when there would be less to think about [in aggravating the injury] and she would have a more fluid movement.”
Though Dy didn’t score during her brief playing time, her return was a positive sign for the team, which is currently in fourth place with a 5-3 record, tied with Chery Tiggo and Choco Mucho, with three games left to play.
“Just to play with new faces is just so refreshing, and yeah, I was just really happy and excited to be part of the team inside [the court],” Dy said, expressing her joy in rejoining the action.
“Her presence has a huge effect, even if she comes and goes in the scrimmages, that’s still her,” Ricafort noted. “Even if she still isn’t the 100 percent Kianna who can play in the first six, she helps us improve.”
Looking ahead, Dy’s return gives PLDT another strong option in their roster. If she fully recovers, she will be able to contribute significantly alongside other wing spikers, like Savi Davison, who scored 24 points in their win against Cignal.
“It wasn’t really easy. It’s been a hard year,” Dy said, feeling emotional about her journey back. “I’m still trying to get to my 100 percent and I’m slowly getting there. I am thankful to my teammates and my coaches, they make it easier for me even though I myself am finding it difficult.”
