Carl Berdal thought his season was already over after sustaining separate injuries on his knees that forced him to sit out most of the games of Arellano University in the NCAA Season 99 men's volleyball tournament.
After making the most of his time away from the game to recover and get to his old form, the sophomore spiker returned just in time to boost the Chiefs' Final Four campaign.
"Masaya kasi injury-free na rin po ako and makakatulong na rin sa team. Siguro 80 percent okay na ako," Berdal told GMA News Online in an interview.
(I'm happy because I'm injury-free and I can help the team. Probably I'm at 80 percent.)
The 23-year-old Berdal suffered patellar tendinitis on his left knee early last year and after nine months of rehabilitation, he then sustained iliotibial band syndrome on the right knee last March.
Good thing is he did not need to undergo any surgery, making his return a lot more possible.
"Na-injure po kasi ako on both knees. Nu’ng offseason po, pinagaling ko ‘yung left knee ko for almost nine months last year tapos after no’n nakaka-train na ako, nakabalik na ako," Berdal recalled.
"Kaso March 2, na-injure naman ‘yung kanan during training kaya na-late ako."
(I was injured on both knees. During the offseason, I allowed my left knee to recover for almost nine months last year, then after that I trained then I returned. But in March 2, I sustained an injury in my right knee during training so I came in late.)
The 6-foot Berdal immediately made an impact in his comeback as the Chiefs successfully booked a return trip to the Final Four alongside defending champion Perpetual and higher-ranked EAC and Letran.
Berdal dropped 16 points and nine digs in their semis-clinching victory against Jose Rizal University last Tuesday to follow up on his six-point and 17-reception outing in their four-set loss to EAC last Friday.
The sophomore outside hitter admitted however he is still adjusting on the court after missing out on their past seven games.
"Magdo-double effort kami sa Final Four, mas pag-iigihan namin. Ang tagal ko ring nawala and nangangapa pa po ako sa teammates ko," Berdal, Arellano's top scorer in Season 98, added.
"Feel ko naman na nakukuha na namin ‘yung chemistry kasi halos lahat naman dito ay magkaka-batch din."
(We will double our effort in the Final Four, we will do our best. I was gone for a long time and I'm getting the hang of it with my teammates. I feel like we are getting our chemistry because every one here is almost of the same batch.)
Berdal and the rest of the crew led by AC Guinto, Adrian Villados, Jiwen Sinuto, and Penny Curamen will look to extend their lives in Season 99 as they take on third-seeded Knights in the knockout stepladder semifinals on Sunday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
