For the last few months, Philippine volleyball’s pioneering Overseas Filipino Worker Alyssa Valdez has been plucking away as an import for Attack Line in the Chinese Taipei Volleyball League.
The 24-year-old missed out on a lot of occasions, but Valdez was not going to miss out on the signature warmth and festiveness of Christmas in the Philippines.
The four-time V-League MVP was spending Christmas day watching beau and NLEX Road Warriors rookie Kiefer Ravena play at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
The proud Batangueña told Tiebreaker Times that she was not going to miss Christmas for anything.
“Sabi nga nila, iba ang pasko sa Pilipinas.
“I really would not exchange anything for experiencing Christmas here,” she said.
The Phenom only landed Christmas eve. She will need to return to Taiwan to finish her contract and play two more games on December 30 and 31.
On Taiwanese volleyball, Valdez bares that the sport is still in its infancy stage there. Though it may not be as competitive as the Volleyball Thailand League, in which she played earlier this year, the former Ateneo Lady Eagle sees a lot of potential in the players with whom she’s played.
“Nag-enjoy ako,” Valdez emphasized. “It’s a really different experience from Thailand. I played in Thailand before pero iba din talaga yung ginawa kong adjustment sa Taipei. It was more on communicating because of the language barrier, aside from the system of playing in Chinese Taipei.
“In Thailand, I honestly didn’t get to play a lot. This time, nabigyan talaga ako ng chance to play. It’s a different setup. Sa Thailand, iba ‘yung level of play and super dami talaga nang magaling na players and teams.
“But there are a lot of talented players in Taiwan na can play internationally. Right now, they (Taiwanese) have been telling me na similar ang situation ng Taiwan and Philippines in that they are also trying to show people na they have something with volleyball. I hope na volleyball can also be big there like it is here,” she continued.
Valdez also confirmed that she will ne much more comitted to her mother team Creamline, next year. She missed a lot of games in the crucial stages of the Premier Volleyball League that cost the Cool Smashers two title runs.
“Next year, I’m planning to focus sa Creamline. Just this year, I traveled a lot talaga. They supported me throughout, esepcially doon sa National Team stint ko. They sacrificed a lot for me talaga. I think I have to focus sa team ko talaga,” Valdez disclosed.
“Still, I’m open to any opportunity that might come my way.”
As for her New Year’s resolution, Valdez wants to make more time for her loved ones and take better care of herself.
“Siguro, I want to spend more time with my family and myself.”
