Then a familiar face approached her teammates who’s already on their side of the court. She really got most of the people confused. Can’t blame the girl. why? Dang! At first glance it’s really like Dzi playing again! Comically, the netizens prompted tweeting:
“nakakaloka sumobra ata sa playing years si Dzi, hahahaha”
“akala ko ba graduate na yung Fab5? Bakit nasa UAAP pa si Dzi? LOL”
“di bah nasa PSL si Dzi at naglalaro sa Petron? Naglalaro din pala siya sa UAAP”
At that time the Jump Serve Queen, Dzi Gervacio, is already a rookie in a pro-league (PSL Grand Prix).
But that comic recall of her as Dzi’s doppelganger did not last long enough. Ana Laureen Gopico slowly introduces herself showing how a middle hitter moves in court. Well she did it while rocking her number 4 jersey. Those middle attacks are well appreciated by fans. Quick and power is her pepper on her tasteful hits. Crisp hit, if I may add.
If you think I’m over-hyping another rookie again, DON’T! Even those commentators who are analyzing games for years stated that Ana Gopico is the probably one of the most effective middle Ateneo has produced in years after, the Queen Eagle in her time, Charo Soriano’s exit.
With her effective presence as a legit middle, Ateneo has been damaging teams. But not until that cardiac 5-setter game against UST. During the 4th set, on the 24th point to be exact, she suddenly fell down after an attempt over the net. We were waiting for her to stand up because the rally is still on, but she did not. She was in an “up-side-down” position feeling hurt. Minutes later she was carried on a stretcher outside the court.
Her absence in the 5th set was so evident. But I think what happened to her fueled more determination for the team to win the match. Thank God they did!
Fans got worried and vent it through social media. Concerned tweets flooded asking what happened, is she okay, will Ana be back among others. Days had passed when the fans was somehow thankful because she said it was an MCL tear and is still waiting for the MRI result. Just to the shock of the fans that the injury is an ACL. Dang! ACL is the most feared injury for an athlete. ACL needs long time to recover. The recent news says that Ana will not play this season anymore and is said to be rested for six months.
Well its ACL, and we could do nothing about it. How we wish to lessen your burdens Ana, but we just can’t. Stay strong and take your time to recover. Do you know the “mamba-mentality”, that of Kobe Bryant?
"We don't quit, we don't cower, we don't run. We endure and conquer"
Endure and conquer that challenge Ana. Believe that you can. Before you know it you’re back, not just seeing action, but rocking the court again. We believe we will be seeing your sudden chuckles and giggles on court again.
Don’t worry if you’re already back in your groove we will still be there cheering “ ANA, Go!”
