Although she’s only 25 years old, Alyssa Valdez still felt old on Thursday afternoon at the first Women’s National Volleyball Team tryouts in 2019 at the Arellano University Law School Gym.
The multi-time national team campaigner was around the usual National Team campaigners. But the meet also saw a healthy infusion of young players vying for spots in the U-23 pool.
From UAAP Season 81 Juniors MVP Angel Canino to highly-touted incoming University of Santo Tomas freshman Eya Laure, the next generation was well-represented.
Through the day, Valdez got to scrimmage with the young players. And she was amazed with how easily they kept up with the seniors batch.
“First siguro yung physical appearance talaga nila. Built talaga to be a volleyball player. They’ve been playing for how many years na rin naman,” shared Valdez, who played for the U23 team back in 2015.
“Compared to our batch, sila talaga very mature yung katawan nila sa age nila, kasi kami siguro naging mature na kami pagdating ng college. But sila high school pa lang. Mentally, physically, makikita mo na very smart na, very mature, and ang dami na nilang nilalaro talaga,” she added.
“So bright future, I guess. And magiging bright lang yan kung maganda at plinano talaga yung program sa volleyball.”
Valdez joked that when she was at their age, she had been rail thin and had no idea of proper conditioning and maintenance. Her advice to the young players centered on taking care of their bodies and paying close attention to their conditioning.
“I believe when I was this age, fifteen or even ten years ago, iba yung payat namin, iba yung build namin. You know kids, sobrang excited talaga to play. Ang mga priorities niyan school talaga and hopefully volleyball lang,” the 5-foot-9 spiker reflected.
“Pinaka-main thing talaga is really their health. The more you take good care of your body, your mental, soul, lahat, mas maganda yung makikita sa loob ng court so iyon lang. Alagaan nila yung katawan.”
In Valdez’s eyes, the high turnout for the National Team only means that the investment in joining international tournaments will pay off.
“Nagugulat ako na in a sense na bata palang sila. ‘Pag tinanong mo age nila, doon ka lang magugulat. Pero when they’re inside the court, it’s equal footing talaga, so hindi mo mararamdaman sa kanila na nahihiya sila. Hindi mo mararamdaman na bata sila, na natatakot sila, which is a good,” she beamed.
“Siguro sa dami ng talents namin, ‘di natin alam saan ilalaga. But good thing may Under-16, Under-19, Under-23, and a lot mor. And maganda rin iyon kasi mahaba talaga yung buhay natin; at least hindi lang kami magre-rely sa fourteen players lang. I think it’s a big pool na masu-sustain yung level, yung system also. Lalo na sa mga coaches na ininstill sa atin.”
