After missing Creamline’s championship run in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, team captain Alyssa Valdez hopes to recover in time to join her fellow Cool Smashers in their upcoming stint with the Philippine women’s national volleyball team in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
Valdez, who missed the Rebisco-backed squad’s championship run in the import-less conference, said that she has a chance of joining the national team bound for Cambodia.
“There’s always a chance naman, even if it’s a small chance, I’ll grab it to help kung ano yung makakatulong sa national team. If tinawag tayo, if ready tayo, I’ll be there for the team,” said the three-time PVL MVP.
“So sa akin naman, malapit na. Hopefully malapit na. My doctors, PTs, coaches also they really want me back 100-percent, so I really have to be patient and trust the process.”
The former Ateneo star is thrilled about the possibility of playing for the national team along with her Creamline teammates Jia De Guzman, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, and Kyla Atienza.
Valdez hopes that their familiarity with one another can help boost the national team’s chances in the SEA Games.
“For the past years, we’ve really been looking for the system and familiarity of the team. Hopefully, it will be an advantage for us going to the SEA Games. We hope to bring din players sina Kath Arado, and we’re always open naman eh,” said Valdez.
“The team laging open sa learnings and we’re under coach Jorge as well so we really have to listen to him kung ano yung sistema na gusto niya ipagawa sa amin and sana maapply namina nd magawa namin sa mga games yung mga ittraining namin and yung mga trinaining namin for the past months,” she added.
Valdez watched on the bench on Thursday night as the Cool Smashers completed their come-from-behind victory over Petro Gazz in Game Three, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15, to claim their second straight All-Filipino crown.
She also expressed how proud she was of what the team achieved throughout the conference.
“Grabe this series talaga. I’m just very, very proud of them. Sabi ko since day one, I’ve seen them really work hard. Super focused sila sa goal this conference,” said the 29-year-old native of San Juan, Batangas.
“I’m very proud and very happy na na-achieve ng buong team kung ano yung pinaghirapan this conference.”
