Maddie Madayag returned after already being benched for nearly two years due to an ACL injury as if she had never been away.

After making her first start since the 2021 PVL Open Conference in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, the 5-foot-11 middle blocker overcame any first-game jitters and scored a team-high 11 points to help Choco Mucho defeat Akari in the season opener.

Maddie said after sparking Choco Mucho’s late-game runs to sweep Akari in its 2023 All-Filipino Conference debut on Saturday. That she is happy when his Coach Dante gave her an opportunity for redemption, since her recovery was too long and she suffered pain when she was injured that time. 

She is very grateful for her game, and they will not stop until they win the game.

In the PVL’s first team event following the pandemic, Madayag experienced her second ACL injury during Choco Mucho’s match against Petro Gazz for the bronze medal. Prior to participating as a service specialist in the Reinforced Conference, she skipped the 2022 Open and Invitational Conference.

In the second and third sets, Madayag, who was now making a full recovery and in excellent condition, ignited Choco Mucho’s identical 7-1 run mid-game by making nine attacks, one block, and an ace.

Amidst a great performance that earned her Player of the Game recognition, the former Ateneo breakout star downplayed the post-game honor as she solely concentrated on Choco Mucho’s podium attempt.

Madayag said that she did not think about the POG, because she will do anything for her team. The POG was the plus points since it means that it is working on the system that their Coach Dante wanted to apply to their game.