Injury bug bites UAAP stalwarts

The opening weekend of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 volleyball was overshadowed by a string of injuries, with three key players suffering setbacks at the Mall of Asia Arena.

One of the biggest blows came when University of Santo Tomas (UST) star Josh Ybañez went down with an apparent right ankle injury during the Golden Spikers’ season opener against Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws last Saturday.

The reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) suffered the injury late in the fourth set while attempting a backrow hit.

Ybañez landed on the foot of his teammate, second-year middle blocker Trevor Valera, twisting his knee upon impact.

Despite the injury, Ybañez had already contributed 15 points — all from attacks —before being forced to exit. His availability for UST’s next match against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors on Saturday remains uncertain.

The injury woes continued the following day, when Adamson University’s Mayang Nuique had to be wheelchaired off the court after hurting her right ankle during the first set in a tense match against Ateneo de Manila University.

Shortly after getting treated for an apparent ankle injury after a bad landing, Nuique returned to the court to cheer on the Lady Falcons on the sidelines.

In the fifth set of the same game, the third-year spiker Zel Tsunashima sustained a devastating left leg injury during a block attempt. Tsunashima also had to be stretchered off, leaving the Blue Eagles in shock.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s bad. I think she broke her leg,” Ateneo head coach Sergio Veloso said.

“In this situation, she may not play this season, but she is still on our team. No matter if she stays inside the court or on the bench with us, she’s a part of our team. Everybody will stay together and everybody will stay with her.”

In a follow-up interview with the DAILY TRIBUNE, Veloso confirmed the severity of Tsunashima’s injury, revealing that she sustained fractures to both her tibia and fibula.

“She had surgery this morning to put the bones back in place. The surgery went well. Now, we will have to wait for her rehabilitation, but she will not be able to play this UAAP season,” Veloso stated.

The Blue Eagles now look to rally around Tsunashima’s fighting spirit as they gear up for their next match against defending champions National University Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday.