Kyla Atienza expressed gratitude for the Creamline Cool Smashers' support after returning from a ligament injury to help secure their fourth-straight win in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Kyla Atienza admitted she felt some nerves in her return, but support from her teammates helped her settle back into form for the Creamline Cool Smashers.
Atienza made her comeback in the Cool Smashers’ 25-14, 17-25, 25-18, 25-23 win over the Galeries Tower Highrisers in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday night at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
"Nung una po medyo kinakabahan pa tsaka medyo nangangapa pa," Atienza said during the post-game press conference. "Pero dahil nga sa coaches and teammates ko na lagi namang naka-support, medyo nakabalik din."
The former Best Libero had been sidelined since late last year after suffering a ligament tear in her left elbow during the previous conference. The injury did not require surgery but demanded extended rest.
"Last year pa nung last conference, parang nagka-tear sa ligaments. Kailangan lang i-rest, wala naman pong opera," she shared.
During her absence, Creamline leaned on its depth in the backcourt, with Jen Nierva, Denden Lazaro-Revilla, Aleiah Torres, and Ella De Jesus stepping up to anchor the floor defense.
Atienza said having that support system allowed her to focus on proper recovery.
"Sobrang laking bagay sa akin kasi hindi ako nagmadali mag-recover," she said. "Talagang binigyan ako ng time para mag-heal 'yung injury ko, so sobrang thankful ako sa mga kasama ko."
[ALSO READ: PVL: Tots Carlos lauds Creamline's composure after holding off Galeries Tower]
Sharing duties in her return, Atienza immediately made an impact with 11 excellent digs, helping stabilize Creamline's floor defense as the team extended its winning streak to four games.
Next up for Atienza and the Cool Smashers will be a crucial match against the Nxled Chameleons on Saturday, March 7.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.