By: Ohmer Bautista
After a hard fall last Sunday, Creamline superstar Alyssa Valdez focused on recovery, as she hoped that the incident wouldn’t cause her to miss any games for the Cool Smashers.
Fortunately, the product of Ateneo made a successful return on Wednesday.
Although the five-time V-League MVP admitted she still has lingering pain on her left ankle, she remains grateful that she can play without a major injury.
“As of now, pain is still there but yeah, para-paraan lang ‘yan,” the 5-foot-8 spiker confided.
“Hindi naman maiiwasan na hindi mawala ‘yung pain sa paa, but you got to be brave to face… Ako kasi, one of my fears talaga is to get injured.”
All throughout her stellar four-year career as a pro, Valdez has yet to suffer a grave injury. And she is grateful for this every day.
“For the longest time, I’m playing with no major injuries. Hopefully until now, wala pa naman, so I’m just really grateful sa nangyari,” bared Valdez, who finished the game with 12 points spiked by four aces. She also constantly knocked on wood when she commented on the matter.
“And I think, that’s a heads up for me na to take really good care of my body.”
Talking about her sprain, the Valdez stressed that rest and therapy are a must for athletes like her.
She also did not shy away from expressing that she draws motivation from veterans who are performing at a high level, while still putting health on premium.
As how the Outside Hitter out of San Juan, Batangas puts it, “Rest talaga and active therapy talaga are really important for us. Hindi naman namin kinukumpara ang mga sarili namin sa mga veterans like sina ate Ging Balse. But I guess, kami rin – kahit ganito pa rin kabata, kung sila nakakatagal ng ganitong katagal na inilagaan nila ang sarili nila, hopefully kami rin, maalagaan namin ‘yung sarili namin.
“Kung may silver lining nitong mga pangyayaring ‘to, kailangan namin alagaan ‘yung sarili namin kasi bata pa lang kami.”
