Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez is ‘doing pretty well’ after dealing with an undisclosed injury that sidelined her for more than half of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season earlier this year.
Valdez played in the season-opening All-Filipino Conference but missed the remainder of the Cool Smashers’ Grand Slam campaign in the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences due to the unspecified injury.
However, the three-time league MVP shared that she is now closer to a return, having been an active participant in practices and scrimmages throughout the team’s training camp for the 2024-25 all-local tilt.
The Rebisco-backed squad set up camp in Taiwan before wrapping up the final stages of their preparations in the country, which included a tune-up match against a Japanese team.
“Well, I’ve been practicing with the team and actually doing scrimmages also. I’ve been able to play as well in our practice games and tune-up games. So, I’d say I’ve been doing pretty well,” Valdez told Tiebreaker Times.
The 31-year-old outside hitter is preaching patience as she strives to regain her old form and become a key contributor to a Creamline side gunning for a fifth consecutive All-Filipino crown in the six-month-long tournament.
“Slowly getting there. We’re all taking our time kasi syempre, we don’t want to get back again to zero. Definitely, working double para makatulong at maging one hundred percent na talaga this conference,” said Valdez.
“Hopefully, I’m really hopeful na makatulong and maka-contribute ako this coming conference,” she added.
The nine-time PVL champion did not rule herself out of Creamline’s opening match against Petro Gazz on Saturday in Antipolo, though she said that the final decision will depend on head coach Sherwin Meneses.
“It depends on Coach Sherwin [Meneses] pa rin naman at the end of the day, but everyone’s ready to play. Everyone’s really there to help the team,” said Valdez.
“Kapag tinawag tayo ni coach, I’ll be there always up to the challenge.”
