Valdez, Customs working to develop as a single unit

After playing her first match with her newly found team, ace player Alyssa Valdez likes her team’s chances despite being newcomers in the league.

Valdez and Bureau of Customs Transformers debuted in the 13th Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference opposite University of the Philippines Monday night, and they did so on a high note with a straight set win.

The Customs were able to pull off the rousing victory at the expense of the Lady Maroons, all without their foreign reinforcements, due to technicalities with their documents.

Despite the Transformers’ lack of imports in their opening match, the 5’10” open spiker was happy that they still managed to reign victorious over the young UP volleybelles.

“Definitely, sobrang big factor ng mga imports,” said Valdez moments after their match. “Sa training, we’ve practiced with them. Nagulat din (na wala sila), but volleyball is a game naman na kailangan mo mag-adjust in every circumstances and yun ang kailangan naming gawin kanina.”

“We’re really happy na nagawa naman kanina,” the three-time UAAP MVP added.

With her first match playing for the Customs done, Valdez described how it felt, and quipped that she and her new teammates have the same common denominator that helps them play as one.

“Ibang iba yung environment, but we play the same sport. At the end of the day, pare-parehas kami ng pinapanindigan at tinet-raining. Yun lang naman ang pinaghuhugutan namin lahat so we try to stick together and play together,” she stated.

However, the UST High School alumnae admitted that the team still has to work on a few tangibles, particularly with language barrier with their imports, to be able to seamlessly play together.

“Kahit yung ibang teams na matagal na magkakasama, meron pa ring miscommunications. Paano pa kami?”

“Language barrier, mahirap. Iba pag coach mo yung Thai, iba din pag teammate mo yung Thai. You have to communicate well,” Valdez explained.

With the season still in its early stages, Valdez is positive and upbeat about how the new Customs will fare against other teams as the conference rolls out.

“Start pa lang ng season. Eventually, magkakaroon ng improvement lahat ng teams. Nakita nila kami na walang imports, but syempre, hirap din. Kung kakayanin naman… Di rin natin masabi kung kailan makaka-contribute sa team (yung imports),” Valdez pointed out.

“As their teammates, gusto lang din namin mapakita sa kanila na ganito yung volleyball dito. Manalo, matalo, we’re still one team.“