Jovelyn Gonzaga returns to the PVL with the young ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles to begin the next chapter of her volleyball career.
One month after her move to the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, Jovelyn Gonzaga has finally opened the latest chapter in her storied volleyball career.
The former Cignal HD Spiker on Thursday returned to PVL action after sitting out much of the 2024 season to fulfill her Philippine Army commitments. Debuting alongside first overall pick Thea Gagate, Gonzaga finished with eight points and 11 excellent digs in a promise-filled loss against the Akari Chargers at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
But in a short post-game interview, the “Bionic Ilongga” revealed that part of her hiatus was to recover from the long grind of professional volleyball. The lefty spiker last played in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, before sitting out the succeeding Reinforced and Invitational Conferences.
“Lumayo muna ako sa volleyball kasi ‘yun din siguro ‘yung natutunan ko sa sarili ko, kasi na-injury na ako before diba? So masyado ko nang inaabuso ‘yung katawan ko from beach volleyball to three [PVL] conferences na sunod-sunod,” said Gonzaga, referring to her right anterior cruciate ligament in 2017 during the Philippine Superliga (PSL).
“Grateful ako doon sa opportunity na makasama sa team [Cignal] na laging nakakapasok sa podium. Sobrang blessed ako doon, pero at times ma-feel mo na ‘yung pagod na binebetray mo na ‘yung katawan mo. Mahal ko ang volleyball, pero napapagod ang katwan ko, so knock on wood, huwag naman sa sobrang pilit ko may mangyari uli sa katwan ko,” she reflected.
Gonzaga wasn’t exactly out of condition in her PVL comeback. Following a dedicated period for rest, the lefty spiker went on to play in the Philippine Army’s in-house volleyball league to shake off some rust ahead of her impending pro volleyball return.
But the Jordan, Guimaras native knows that her decisive break will spell the difference in her comeback, having seen herself brave through fatigue and even burnout before resting.
“May laro kasi kami sa Army, so good start siya for me. Nagkapa-kapa ako doon and naibabalik ko kaunti ‘yung laro ko. Pero mas better kasi ako minsan na mas galing ako sa pahinga compared sa mas na-burnout ako. So ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-best feeling [well-rested] and sabi nga nila pumayat ako eh…pero for me kasi based sa sarili ko, mas okay ako makapaglaro na nakapag-recover ako nang maayos,” she said.
And with her debut all said and done, the 33-year-old couldn’t be more proud of her team’s fight against a contending Akari team. Despite the four-set loss, the Thunderbelles actually came close to forcing a fifth and final set, before the Chargers leaned on Ivy Lacsina and Faith Nisperos to seal the contest.
For Gonzaga, it’s a good enough fight to set the tone for their season.
“Nangangapa-ngapa pa, lumalabas pa rin talaga ‘yung pagkabata ng team pero andun na kami. Sabi naman ng coaching staff, tiyagain lang namin day by day hanggang sa mabuo talaga ‘yung momentum namin…and actually every tune up game, hindi pa talaga ako super nag-gegel sa team. Also si Chai [Troncoso] kasi late na rin si Chai naging addition sa team,” she said following the 14-25, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25 loss on Thursday.
“So makikita mo pa rin talaga na pag nag-rally na, naraattle-rattle na kami and all. Pero for sure, eventually, magtutuloy tuloy ang team and mahaba ang conference. So, it’s a good game as a first game.”
Renewed purpose
In joining ZUS Coffee, Jovelyn Gonzaga teams up with a young core bannered by first-overall pick Gagate and former College of St. Benilde standouts Cloanne Mondoñedo, Mich Gamit, and Gayle Pascual.
The 33-year-old bared how she and these young stars have been learning from each other early on. Gagate, of course, is a one-time UAAP champion and national team player, while the Benilde trio was part of a three-peat under concurrent Thunderbelles coach Jerry Yee.
“Sobrang thankful ako na ZUS ang napuntahan ko na team. Unang-una, mga bata and at the same time, kumbaga, kung may natutunan sila sa akin, ako din may natutunan. Actually, ‘yun naman din ‘yung isa sa reason bakit nag-iba ako ng team. ‘Yung parang ano naman ba ‘yung purpose, anong bago for me na gusto kong matutunan,” the Jordan, Guimaras native said.
In this new chapter, Gonzaga knows she won’t be guiding an inexperienced group. In fact, she was the first to admit how ZUS already has a sound core, with her being the newcomer that needs to adjust to Yee’s system.
The lefty star also lauded this group’s discipline and attitude, which lightens her load as one of this team’s most senior players.
“Parang ‘yun nga lagi nilang sinasabi na parang ‘Ate, dito ka lang laking bagay na samin’. So hindi siya mahirap sa akin, hindi siya responsibility kasi parang pagdating ko doon, naka-click na agad ako sa team,” said Gonzaga.
“Alam nyo, ‘yun ‘yung fear ko nung una, na baka hindi kami aligned sa line of thinking namin. Baka magkaiba kasi mga bata sila. Pero pagdating ko doon, jusko! Kung alam niyo, ang sarap nila kasama,” she enthusiastically added.
Rather than doing the heavy lifting, Gonzaga believes that leading by example and stepping up will be more than enough in this ZUS Coffee core.
“Step up every single game, every single time na ginagamit ako ni Coach Jerry. Para at least makita din nila, ma-inspire din sila sa akin na mas mapaganda pa lalo mga laro namin. So more on, kailangan ko mag-step up. ‘Yun lang talaga yung iniisip ko lagi every single time.”
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.