By NIKOLE JAVIER
Volleyball star Alyssa Valdez has won almost everything there is to win in the local scene, but she remains hungry for more glory.
The most decorated player of her generation, Valdez is determined to keep her career record on track following Creamline’s seventh overall title after emerging victorious in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Second All-Filipino last week.
They won the crown undefeated, winning all their games, a feat that secured their place in the pantheon of great champions with special mention to Valdez.
Valdez, who has been with the Cool Smashers ever since the squad joined the league in 2017, is still looking good and deadly at 30 – thanks to her brilliant recovery.
Valdez suffered a right knee injury during Creamline’s battle for third match against Chery Tiggo in the 2022 PVL Reinforced Conference and many were worried about her physical condition.
The three-time PVL MVP was then sorely missed the following year before returning to action in the mid-year conference.
Putting the bitter memories – the injury she suffered exactly a year ago and the heartbreaking defeat she experienced during her final year in the UAAP – behind, Valdez is relishing the big moment she savored at the Big Dome.
Their exciting title series attracted a crowd of 24,456 – a new PVL record.
“It’s probably my first championship win here at Araneta. First ever [title] win [here] and it’s so timely siguro to end the year with a win,” said Valdez.
The skipper hasn’t been in Creamline’s old rotation since recovering from the injury, but she remained to be a force to reckon with when called upon.
She re-produced that magic during the crucial stretch of Game 2 with Choco Mucho when she delivered five big points, including the clincher that gave the Cool Smashers their third straight All-Filipino title.
“Simula pa lang sinasabi namin one point at a time. And I guess ang nasa isip ko lang noon pag pinasok ako ni coach gagawin ko lang ‘yung trabaho ko para makatulong sa team. It’s so nice to play kasi in that moment, in this big stadium, with this crowd, ang sarap maglaro. Ang iniisip ko lang bahala na ibibigay ko lang lahat para sa team,” she said.
“[Thankful] definitely sa trust niya kasi hindi ako naglaro ng ilang sets but binigay niya sa akin ‘yung opportunity na ‘yun.”
“Honestly, I think one thing that works and works for me and for us this conference is that the experience I had playing for almost ilang years na rin talaga. Iba kasi ‘yung challenges kasi namin as a team this conference. May mga pinagdadananan kami mga players na kailangan namin mag-recover in different ways most especially mga back to back games din ngayon,” Valdez furthered.
“It’s just so nice to be surrounded by these competitive, empowered women. And with the coaches also, I guess that’s the beauty in our team. There’s no day na hindi mo mai-prove ‘yung sarili mo sa training. There’s no day hindi mo gagawin ‘yung best mo.”
