Carrying flag for PH ‘opportunity’ not just for Valdez, but for women’s volleyball

Alyssa Valdez during training. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The Philippines will send its star lineup in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time since the 2005 bronze medal winners.

In the middle of it all is 21-year-old Alyssa Valdez, a lady whom most people say is the “face of Philippine volleyball.”

When the Philippines last participated in the regional tournament, Valdez was an 11-year-old girl. Fast forward to 2015, the volleyball star is the flag-carrier of the Philippines in Singapore.

READ: Maraño sees bright future for young SEA Games teammates like Valdez, Santiago

“It’s the Philippine flag,” Valdez said Tuesday at Blue Eagle Gym. “I’m really honored, and this is not only an opportunity for me, it’s an opportunity for women’s volleyball.”

“This is the first time [in 10 years] that women’s volleyball will participate and the flag-carrier is from the sport.”

READ: ‘Happy’ atmosphere envelopes PH women’s volley team days before SEAG

But carrying the Three Stars and a Sun in Singapore is far from Valdez’ mind as her focus has been solely on leading the women’s volleyball team.

“Honestly, I don’t think much of it, right now I’m more focused on training for the national team.” CC