Alyssa Valdez will once again be part of the Philippine Women’s National Volleyball Team.
Not only that, the 29-year-old native of San Juan, Batangas will serve as captain of the squad for the first time since the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.
And being named skipper is something that came as a surprise to the decorated spiker.
“I’m super happy, super overwhelmed to be part of the national team, of course,” she expressed to Tiebreaker Times.
“It’s an overwhelming task I would say, but really positive that all the preparation naman, and ‘yung recovery would really give me that confidence also,” the three-time PVL Most Valuable Player continued.
“But I just really can’t wait also to get back on court, and really hit some volleyballs.”
It was just last two months ago when Valdez underwent a procedure to treat the knee injury she sustained during the tail-end of the 2023 PVL Reinforced Conference.
And it has been a long road to recovery for Valdez.
“I’m still recovering. But, it’s really an extra push and motivation for me to be back hundred percent this coming SEA Games,” she said.
But Valdez has been assured by her doctor George Canlas that she will be in tip-top shape by then.
“Well, according to Doc Canlas naman… kayang umabot talaga, and then ‘yung progress ng therapy ko is very good. And ‘yun sa stage nga na may mga, hopefully, jumps, and eventually would be able to do more complicated [moves], and mga drills as well,” said Valdez, who had to miss the entire All-Filipino Conference as well.
“So I’m really trusting the process. Siguro there’s really no shortcuts, so I’m really patient para mas… ‘yung recovery hundred percent talaga, and di na ma-delay because of the things na… hopefully wala na ma-encounter na ibang mga [injuries].”
Joining Valdez in the country’s bid to bounce back from a dismal fourth-place finish last year are six players familiar to her in Creamline teammates Jia De Guzman, Kyla Atienza, Ced Domingo, Jema Galanza, Tots Carlos, and Michele Gumabao.
Completing the squad are their PVL rivals in Chery Tiggo’s Mylene Paat; PLDT’s Kath Arado and Dell Palomata; Choco Mucho’s Chery Nunag and Kat Tolentino; and Cignal’s Gel Cayuna and Glaudine Troncoso.
So for Valdez, chemistry won’t be a problem despite having only one full month to train under coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito.
“It’s always…. kind of different naman na the feeling of representing the country. So much pride and joy, whenver you’re called to represent the flag. So extra-extra special also kasi I’ll be with most of my teammates in Creamline na hindi ko pa rin nakakasama makalaro for the past months,” she said.
“So, I’m really excited and really looking forward na makaapak at makabalik na sa court. It’s nice kasi after every single year, we want some familiarity also inside the court. And I think — hopefully we take this as an advantage to us going to the SEA Games.”
Captain Ly is excited to serve the 🇵🇭 once again in the SEA Games #Sambansa
📹Zachi Cruz/Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/N8xoBG4PJP
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 2, 2023
