Set aside the loss — the Philippine National Team gave everyone in the Alonte Sports Arena a glimmer of hope that they would witness an upset. Although the euphoria was ultimately fleeting, the Filipinas gave the towering Kazakhstan everything they had.
That was all fans could ask for from the ladies in red: a brave showing in the face of insurmountable adversity.
The poster girl of the Philippines tonight was Alyssa Valdez. Undeniably the Philippines’ most reliable player, the four-time V-League MVP did not back down against Kazakhs three to four inches taller than her.
Valdez traded blows with Kazakhstan’s Katerina Tatko, a more powerful and much more experienced player. While Katko outscored her, 20-14, Valdez was the one who came away with the most to gain with all the experience.
“Malaki ‘yung lead ng kalaban noong third set, but, definitely, hindi namin ginusto na matapos lang nang hindi kami lumalaban,” the 24-year-old spiker explained. “And I think we showed it. Kinulang lang talaga. Tatanggapin lang namin lahat ng challenges ngayon and we’re really learning all the things na kailangan namin. Pero mahaba pang proseso ‘to.
“We’re looking forward to all the challenges.”
With a 1-1 record in Pool A, the Philippines moves on to the next phase of the AVC Senior Women’s Championship, where more tough lessons await them.
“It’s going to be tougher, but we’re here to fight for sure especially with the tremendous support we’re getting from our kababayans here,” added Valdez, who played for Thai club team 3BB Nakornnont early this year. “It’s really them and the trying to finish better that will bring us to a win.
“We just want to give our one hundred percent every game para sa lahat ng tao.”
Most exciting for Valdez is sharing the court with one of the best players in the world, Kim Yeon Koung of South Korea, whom the Philippines faces on Monday.
“I’ve been watching her as fan. We’re really excited to face such a good team like Korea. We know they’re internationally-known. That can only help as players, playing such a good team.”
