FILE—Ateneo star Alyssa Valdez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
After two straight losses, and a few tearful players, the Lady Eagles of Ateneo are back to its winning ways and a familiar expression was evident on their faces on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Alyssa Valdez and her band of merry makers swept the struggling National University 26-24, 25-17, 25-19 and the “heart strong” mentality that made volleyball fun for them was back and so were their smiles.
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“You can’t have the strongest heart if you don’t play happy,” Valdez said. “We really need to be happy inside the court and naturally lalabas yung strongest heart namin.”
Valdez had a game-high 20 points for Ateneo as the Lady Eagles snapped their two-game losing streak, the longest since their three-game skid back in Season 74.
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Ateneo’s reigning MVP admitted they lacked the desire to win in their past two games, not to mention University of the Philippines and De La Salle University wanted to win more than them.
“Nagkulang kami skills-wise, teamwork, and consistency, and at the end of the day the team that will win is the team na gustong manalo,” Valdez said. “Kulang kami ng ganun at being happy inside the court.”
“Wala kaming special na ginawa [para sa panalo] aside from smiling, that’s the most special thing, consistent smiling.”