Alyssa Valdez knows that’s it’s been quite a while since she last lifted a championship.
The perennial National Team campaigner has enjoyed a constant stream of Most Valuable Player awards, and even a couple of stints with overseas club teams.
But a title has eluded the Phenom. She last won a title with PLDT in the 2015 Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference.
Admittedly, Valdez experienced jitters when the Creamline Cool Smashers took to the SM Mall of Asia Arena court for Game One of the PVL Reinforced Conference Finals.
The former Ateneo Lady Eagle could not help but reminisce, as she’d played some of her best UAAP matches in the Arena in Pasay City.
She won both of her UAAP titles in Mall of Asia Arena – even recording her iconic 35-point match in Game Two of the Season 78 Finals there.
Three years removed, Valdez confessed that she had to pull confidence from her other accomplished teammates.
“That’s really were you get most of your confidence and courage – mas madali for us to play knowing that everyone’s behind you, supporting you,” said Valdez.
The four-time PVL MVP pointed at setter Jia Morado, her teammate when she last won a UAAP title in Season 77. She then went down the list of her current Creamline teammates, including the fiery, two-time PVL champion Michele Gumabao.
“Jia really does a great job of balancing the offense and being a leader also inside the court. Ramdam mo talaga ma kontrolado niya ‘yung game with the sets that she gives you,” said the 25-year-old about her National Team teammate.
“Michele is very inspirational kasi she also really knows what needs to be done to win. Nakakahawa ‘yung motivation and drive niya to win talaga,” the Batangas-native stressed.
“When you have teammates na very experienced din, it’s very easy to feel confident inside the court. You just want to do your part to win.”
