Reporters didn’t have to remind her; Alyssa Valdez knows when she last won a championship.
“[UAAP] Season 77,” Valdez said when the topic of her last championship was brought up.
Well, sort of.
The three-time PVL MVP wasn’t exactly correct; her last championship wasn’t the second of back-to-back UAAP titles with the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles. She last won a championship in the same year as Season 77, having made an appearance in the Finals with PLDT to thwart the Army Lady Troopers in the 2015 Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference
Still, for someone held at such high standards, two years seems like an eternity.
Individually, she has still been spectacular, winning the MVP award in her final UAAP Season and in the following SVL Reinforced Conference.
But Valdez has been short on titles and there are several reasons why.
Since leaving the UAAP in 2016, the Batangueña has played for three club teams. The constant shuffling of scenery and teammates has made it hard for the Phenom to gain much-needed chemistry with her teammates.
But Valdez insists she has found a home with current club Creamline Cool Smashers.
“It’s a long term commitment with Creamline. I’ve found a family here,” Valdez said after scoring 21 points and leading the Cool Smashers to route over the Power Smashers in the battle for third in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
Despite missing out on another championship, Valdez’s spirits are still high and she remains optimistic about the team’s immediate future.
“Ending this with an award or medal is different from losing sa game. It’s going to be an inspiration sa amin na maglalaro sa All-Filipino na kaya naman namin kapag magkakasama kami.
“It’s going to be a confidence booster for us and we need that as a new team,” the 5-foot-9 spiker told Tiebreaker Times.
On her quest for a title, Valdez simply takes each loss as a sign to get better. More than any other reason, the constant need to better her individual game is Valdez’s main impetus to keep driving for a title.
“It’s always a challenge for me to be on top shape as an individual player. But, as a team, it’s really a struggle na mahirap din talaga na makapasok sa semis, sa finals,” the Ateneo alumna added.
“Most of the time, hindi namin nakukuha ‘yung win. Siguro it’s a sign talaga na ako, as an athlete, kailangan ko pang mag-improve. Marami pa ‘rin pa ako hindi natutunan. Magandang reminder ‘yung mga ganitong games to look back sa basics na tinuturo ng coaches namin.”
