Sidelined in the first leg of the ASEAN Grand Prix due to an ankle injury, perennial national team campaigner Alyssa Valdez reintroduced herself on the international stage on Friday afternoon.
The 26-year-old outside hitter showed no signs of rust despite weeks of layoff from competitive action. She dropped 14 points — built on 12 attacks and a pair of service aces — to spearhead the charge of the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team in the straight-set conquest of Vietnam.
“First game back after ilang days na hindi ako nakapag-training with the team,” gushed Valdez, who only took part in team practice last Thursday after she made a complete recovery.
“I’m really happy na nakaka-contribute rin ako to the best of my abilities din.”
Indeed, Valdez is ecstatic that she was able to deliver the goods and help her sisters-in-arms in the face of a tough foe. But more than anything else, she’s glad that she scintillated in front of the home crowd at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna.
“Iba talaga ang pakiramdam,” the product of Ateneo bared. “It’s always nice to play here in your hometown. I think it added energy and motivation…. Alam mo yun, yung energy namin siyempre pagod na rin.
“But when we hear the crowd really cheering until maka-point… Iba rin talaga yung nagagawa niya sa morale din naming manglalaro.”
Now that she has given her country a triumphant moment for the first time in a long while, there is no question that Valdez is eager to do it again.
In the meantime, however, Valdez has to shed the tri-colors of the country and don the pink-and-white for her club team, Creamline. She — along with her fellow Cool Smasher Jia Morado, Choco Mucho’s Maddie Madayag and PacificTown–Army’s Jovelyn Gonzaga — has to set out to Iloilo for an out-of-town PVL game on Saturday, October 5.
Nevertheless, Valdez remains optimistic that the remaining players of the national team are more than capable to put up a strong stand against powerhouse Thailand.
“Well, kasi may mga prior commitments din tayo na naka-set na din talaga. Siyempre alam naman natin na magse-step up yung mga nasa team; at alam natin yung mga strategies na gagawin ni coach Shaq and yung coaching staff namin going to the game against Thailand,” she said.
Still, Valdez vowed that once she and the three other PVL stars have returned to the fold on Sunday against Indonesia, they’ll go all-out with their efforts.
“We’re going to be back on Sunday to really contribute and help the team at the same time.”
