Valdez grateful for UAAP Athlete of the Year award

Alyssa Valdez. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Alyssa Valdez left the UAAP without a third straight title, but at the closing ceremonies on Saturday, she was given an individual award to culminate her stellar collegiate career.

Valdez, however, only knew about her Athlete of the Year Award Sunday morning when she arrived in the Philippines after playing in an exhibition game in Doha, Qatar.

Valdez will briefly stay in the country for a few days and she began her first day back to open the 13th season of the Shakey’s V-League.

She will then fly to London on Monday.

“Sabi ko nga I wouldn’t change anything talaga sa buong UAAP career ko since high school,” said Valdez, who also won three high school titles with University of Santo Tomas. “Pero iba rin siyempre kung iba rin ang end na nag-champion sa last year sa Ateneo pero we really have to accept that.”

“Siguro it’s a challenge na rin for me to strive harder pa sa next na chapter na dapat harapin.”

Valdez was just one of four Athletes of the Year with Olympian Ian Lariba of De La Salle University, Softball MVP Queeny Sabobo of Adamson, who was also a gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, and swimming MVP Jessie Lacuna of Ateneo.

It was the first time that the UAAP handed out four Athlete of the Year trophies, two for individual and two for team sports, and Valdez was thankful for it even though she was the only athlete who didn’t win a Season 78 title on the list.

“I’m just thankful na binibigyan ako ng mga ganitong blessings,” said Valdez. “Ako honestly hindi ko naman ine expect na may mga ganyan na mabibigyan ka ng mga award na ganyan. So I’m grateful and thankful and really blessed na kahit na tapos na tayo sa UAAP career nabibigyan pa tayo ng mga ganitong blessings.”