A fit-again Alyssa Solomon returned for Alas Pilipinas in the win over New Zealand after missing one game due to injury in the AVC Nations Cup.
Alyssa Solomon recovered just in time for Alas Pilipinas’ do-or-die contest against New Zealand, keeping themselves in the running for a semifinals spot in the AVC Nations Cup in Vietnam on Wednesday.
Missing one game after an ankle injury, Solomon returned with a vengeance and finished with 11 points in three sets, helping Alas Pilipinas bounce back from a tough loss to Iran last Monday.
[READ: Alas Pilipinas vent ire on New Zealand to stay in semis hunt at AVC Nations Cup]
Solomon had plenty to be thankful for with the Alas coaching staff for being diligent in taking care of her and her conditioning — especially considering the crucial stretch of games for Alas Pilipinas in the coming days.
“Si Lord, syempre po yun talaga yung una kong pinasalamatan kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanya, I think, mahihirapan ako mag-recover and then sa coaching staff namin na walang sawang magcheck sakin," she said.
"Ayun po. Sobrang happy ako kasi finally nakabalik na ako guys and panalo tayo," Solomon added after the win over New Zealand.
But the star opposite spiker isn’t one to be complacent, even as she now feels little pain in her ankle.
That is, even as she gives her best for the national team, she’s also looking out for herself and the long term goal of her own career.
“May pain parin naman po pero super minimal nalang. And then, dapat yung galaw ko mindful parin para iwas sa injury ulit and iwas na rin sa pain po,” she said.
As punishing as the schedule can get, Solomon will hope to be helpful anew for Alas Pilipinas when the team plays their final Pool B match against Kazakhstan on Thursday morning, June 12.
Because of their loss against Iran, Alas Pilipinas will be eyeing a victory over the Kazakhs to give themselves a fighting chance of finishing in the top-2 and moving forward to the semifinal round.
If Alas Pilipinas lose, they will need Iran to lose their match against Mongolia later in the day to have a chance at making it to the semifinals.
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada)