Faith Nisperos ‘really excited’ to suit up again for Akari after long injury layoff

Former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) standout Faith Nisperos is set to make her long-awaited return to competitive action for the Akari Chargers in the upcoming 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference, following an extended absence due to a serious knee injury.

The former UAAP star was sidelined for the entirety of last year’s PVL On Tour preseason tournament as well as the Reinforced Conference, a frustrating stretch that tested Nisperos both physically and mentally. The injury not only halted her momentum on the court but also forced her into an unfamiliar role—watching from the sidelines as her team battled through the season without her.

Despite the challenges, the 26-year-old outside hitter credited her Akari teammates for helping her navigate the long road to recovery. Nisperos shared that the constant support she received during rehabilitation played a crucial role in keeping her motivated during one of the most difficult periods of her career.

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“I will be suiting up for this conference, so I’m so excited. It’s been tough. ‘Yun nga, I was sidelined kasi nga I’m injured. Now that I’m back, I’m really happy kasi I got the support of my teammates. They were supportive of me, and they were always cheering me on during rehab,” Nisperos said in a media interaction.

FAITH NISPEROS in her volleyball jersey once again gosh ik everyone’s can’t wait for your comeback 🤩🔥 pic.twitter.com/khb1YCa12p

— ً 🥢 (@jianfics) January 29, 2026

While the physical toll of injury was significant, Nisperos admitted that the emotional strain of being unable to compete alongside her teammates was equally difficult. Still, she found ways to turn the experience into a learning opportunity, gaining new insights by observing the game from a different vantage point.

“Siyempre, ‘di naman maiiwasan yung want as an athlete to be part of the team playing talaga. As I was outside watching them play, it was still productive for me kasi ang dami kong natutunan – new perspective for me,” she added.

Now cleared to return, Nisperos is eager to translate those lessons into impact on the court. She believes that the time spent watching and analyzing from the sidelines has given her a deeper understanding of the game and an added edge as she rejoins the Chargers’ rotation.

“Siyempre, nandyan yung motivation, the extra motivation. From watching sa side tapos not even be able to do anything volleyball-related, sobrang bago sa akin yung gano’ng experience. Now that I’m back, I’m just really excited. All the learnings na nakuha ko from just watching, I think I can apply naman this time,” she concluded.

Nisperos’ return comes at a crucial time for Akari, who will be looking to make a strong statement early in the All-Filipino Conference. The Chargers open their campaign against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Saturday, January 31, at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan—setting the stage for Nisperos’ much-anticipated comeback under the bright lights once more.

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