ATHLETES’ journeys start in various ways but may end in one of a handful. Some choose to play out until retirement, completely turning away from the sport or becoming a coach. Filipinos know of one all too well: Chot Reyes, who used to play for Ateneo and then later coached numerous teams, but most significantly, Gilas Pilipinas. On the other hand, others are forced to stop due to injuries and health complications. This is true for the two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu, who, after falling short of his third Olympic gold, announced his retirement following an injury to his right ankle. If someone good enough to bag Olympic medals had their career halted by an ankle injury, would it be an absolute end for others?

Icarian Fall

     Kenjee Malonzo (III-BSP) joined the SBCA Men’s Volleyball Team in 9th grade. Currently, he acts as the team's open spiker and utility player. As a volleyball player, the diverse footwork on the court, in combination with jumps and landings, poses a significant threat to Malonzo's performance and well-being. He, unfortunately, fell victim to a sprain on the 21st of August of this year.

     For those unfamiliar, an ankle sprain crucially impacts an athlete. With Hanyu, the sheer impact of landing on ice sends a sharp jolt of pain up through his leg. But unlike him, Malonzo could not take off as high as the figure skater as the momentum they work with differs, with Malonzo relying solely on his feet to push him off the ground while still working with the pain. On top of that, having a sprain also makes it more likely for an athlete to land on their foot in such a way that it would induce another sprain.

     Malonzo blamed the sprain for failing to jump higher. He mentioned that he is currently working on his play style to adjust to the sprain and that despite the time that has passed, it still affects him. “It’s really hard to focus when you feel the pain and have personal problems,” he mentioned, with breakdowns adding to his injury during recovery.

Piecing wings, feather by feather

     Despite the struggles, Malonzo has been coping with the injury with the help of their previous team captain, John Gabriel Santos, an alumnus. He mentioned that Santos had taught him the alphabet routine, mostly a series of drills to condition his body into its former state and strengthen his ankle. It is with constant practice of this routine that he is slowly recovering.

     In the first two weeks after spraining his ankle, Malonzo had to work on healing it on his own. He applied the Rest-Ice-Compression-Exercise (RICE) method and massaged the affected areas using a water bottle. Seeing the state of the athletes, it would be great to see more support from the Bedan Community and, by extension, the Athletics Department. An athlete representing the Lions’ Pride should have been assisted more to some extent, but that might be a discussion for another time.

A Lions’ Test Flight

     On changes post-recovery, Malonzo said he could “see some changes, but I need to put in more effort since I’ve been [falling behind] my teammates. But I won’t let my injury stop my career.” 

     Throughout his recovery, he came to realize that his physical state, enduring challenges such as injuries, not only impacts his performance but also his mental condition. His resilience didn’t stagger but was strengthened after—and through optimism, Malonzo persevered to recover.

     “Despite the setbacks, I’ve come to understand that perseverance and dedication are crucial, and I won't let my injuries define my career.” Malonzo is proof that against the odds, a Bedan will recover with perseverance. No matter what may be in the way, the Red Lions will always choose to play.