Choco Mucho Flying Titans team captain Maddie Madayag hopes that the PVL can reconsider its schedule next time in light of the left ACL injury she suffered Wednesday that will sideline her indefinitely.
"I'm sure all of the players want to compete as much as the fans would like to watch and support their squad. I just hope that in the future, the system will be planned out for coaches and players to thrive," captioned Madayag on her Instagram post.
"I'm just hoping the next time around, coaches' suggestions wouldn't be taken lightly. And that it wouldn't have to reach to a point where a player/athlete has to be put in this kind of situation," she added.
Madayag was injured in the opening game of the battle for third series against eventual bronze medalists. Petro Gazz's schedule saw the Angels play seven games in eight days.
The skipper landed awkwardly when she was attempting to score off a set by Deanna Wong in the fourth set.
Unable to put weight on her knee, she was carted off the Taraflex on a wheelchair. An MRI in Laoag confirmed the injury.
Despite all the preparations of the team in the offseason to prevent another major injury to Madayag, it all went to waste because the schedule shifted to a more grueling one as the league was forced to compress more games in fewer games with Ilocos Norte's impending shift to modified enhanced community quarantine on August 15.
"It is unfortunate that despite the intensive strengthening and training done prior to the league had to be negated all because of a rushed schedule," lamented the middle blocker, who suffered a torn right ACL in 2016.
"It pains me to have incurred such a heartbreaking injury when all I did before the competition was to take care of my body to avoid getting hurt. I am truly lost for words," she added.
Madayag thanked the PVL management for being able to hold the games after over a year in hiatus, but the environment and a schedule that was suddenly condensed did not help their cause.
"Coming into the bubble, I believe that the teams were put in an environment that was not conducive for any athlete, no matter how strong. 7-8 straight games of nonstop competing at a high level can definitely take a toll on one's body," explained Madayag.
"No athlete deserves to be put into the risk of injuries when there are other options to carry on strategizing which will benefit all and lessen the risk," she continued.
Madayag was one of four players who suffered injuries at the PCV Socio-Civic Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. Others injured were Jeanette Panaga, Shola Alvarez, and Rachel Anne Daquis, who eventually were able to return.
League officials have yet to reply to a request for comment as of posting time.
Choco Mucho, meanwhile, confirmed in an Instagram post Saturday afternoon that Madayag had suffered "a complete ACL tear in her left knee."