Alyssa Valdez has built a reputation on winning, but her campaign in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference with the Creamline Cool Smashers has been particularly challenging.
With the Cool Smashers facing all sorts of obstacles, such as not having imports at the start of the tournament and injuries, Valdez has had to increase her work rate. Still, the Cool Smashers have ended up with a 3-5 record, effectively dashing their hopes of the top two seeds and an outright semis berth.
With two games remaining, the 23-year-old feels that it will be imperative for Creamline to build confidence. The Cool Smashers will have to garner a good record in another round robin against the league’s other bottom four teams.
“It’s more of a confidence booster for the team kasi we’re a combination of young and veteran players and may imports.
“We have to get confidence and we really have to fight and give all our heart into every game. We have to establish that in our next two games and hopefully madala namin sa next round,” said the three-time PVL Most Valuable Player.
With imports Laura Schaudt and Kuttika Kaewpin finally able to suit up in their last two games, Creamline have found some respite for their team captain. But even the former reinforcement of Thai club team 3BB Nakornnont acknowledges that there are still a lot of adjustments to be made.
“Kailangan talaga namin maglaro ng maayos as much as possible. I think they’re [imports] really excited to play with the team. They’re doing they’re best and performing really well. They’re not only contributing sa points but also sa defense,” added the former Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagle.
“So I hope di ‘rin sila mapagod kasi the schedule is going to be tight for our team. We have to just recover and accept all the mistakes na nagawa para mabawi namin.”
At least the imports’ production has helped relieve some of the pressure from Valdez, enough to help her recover from a few nagging injuries — most notably an ankle problem that she has had since college.
“I think I really just have to maintain constant therapy kasi it keeps on coming back. But madami namang tumutulong sa team sa wala namang kailangan i-worry kasi lahat nagpe-perform ng maayos,” the 5-foot-9 open spiker declared.
