After accomplishing everything she could in the Philippines, volleyball superstar Alyssa Valdez set out to test her wares in Thailand, an Asian volleyball powerhouse.
A month and three games into her Women’s Volleyball Thailand League stint, the 23-year-old reflected that the experience has been a revelation; that there’s still so much a Phenom can learn.
“I’m just a beginner, rookie talaga. Skills-wise, talent-wise, yung level nila is farther from us, but I think what I like the most in Thailand is I’m challenged by them in really having healthy competition,” the Bantangas-native said.
“As an amateur-pro, you really have to take care of yourself. First time ko malayo sa family, first time ko totally mag-isa, wala akong kilala. Ako personally nag-aalaga sa sarili ko. Sobrang importante talaga yung health sa kahit ano. Volleyball-wise, experience really matters,” she admitted.
“Their teams are really spectacular. Their players played in international competitions, they play like veterans, pero nasa peak pa rin sila. Top players, they don’t stop kung nasaan man sila.”
Playing for 3BB Nakornnont, Valdez is competing against Thailand National Team staples Pleumjit Thinakow, Wilavan Apinyapong, Guedpard Pornpun, and Ajcharaporn Kongyot. Her teammates, on the other hand, include Thailand Youth Team standout Kokram Pimpichaya who competed with the Thailand in the U23 tournament held in the Philippines in 2015. And this opportunity granted on to her has helped her realize that she still has a long way to go.
“Siguro, it’s really one way of reminding me na you can’t really stop. There’s always room for improvement. Reminder yun na makikita mo pa yung top Asian volleyball players, nako-compare mo rin yung sarili natin.
“Nakaka-inspire din makita ung ganung klaseng talent, they don’t stop there. They keep on growing and excelling,” the three-time V-League MVP said.
3BB is a team mostly comprised of Thailand’s best Youth Team players. Surprisingly, Valdez has served as somewhat of a big sister to her teammates.
“Grabe naman sa ate! [Laughs] Pero, oo. They thought na we’re of the same age, kasi siguro the way I play, yung build ng katawan, parang young. We’re really close kahit ‘di kami masyado nagkakaintindhian. They really try to express how happy they are na makita ako. They’re very humble. They don’t know na sobrang galing nila,” Valdez added.
Her club team is currently sitting at fourth place in the standings with a 6-5 record and Valdez flies back to Thailand on Wednesday. And once she gets back, the Fiilpina import hopes that she can do her share to lift her team in the tournament.
“Hopefully, I’m just very thankful and blessed na ganung tema nasamahan ko. Coach M, binibigyan niya ako ng confidence,” Valdez shared.
