Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Alyssa Valdez returned and Bali Pure rallied past University of the Philippines, 20-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-17, 15-12, in the Shakey’s V-League Season 13 Open Conference Monday night at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The fans came to see Valdez in her debut with her new team and the three-time UAAP MVP didn’t disappoint, flashing her lethal form en route to a game-high 26 points, capped by the match-clinching kill.
Valdez made it look easy when actually, she described being in her first game in about a month as a “struggle” despite scoring 23 of her points off spikes whether she’s at the front or back row.
“Super struggle kasi first time ko naging teammates yung iba,” said Valdez, who missed Bali Pure’s first three games.
But it was also her teammates whom she attributed her performance from.
“Tinulungan din kasi ako talaga ng teammates ko to get the points. Nahirapan din talaga ako my teammates just adjusted when they needed to,” she said.
It was a triumphant return for Valdez, but the Water Defenders’ third victory in four outings wasn’t only about the former Ateneo superstar.
Gretchel Soltones, San Sebastian’s two-time MVP, formed a deadly combination for Bali Pure as she also kept the Lady Maroons on their heels.
Soltones finished with 15 points while Amy Ahomiro added 10.
“Dzi Gervacio played very well as an attacker and she also had good services. Gretchel Soltones played really well also especially in the fourth set and fifth set,” said Bali Pure playing-coach Charo Soriano.
The Water Defenders came back from a 19-15 deficit in the second set with Valdez and Soltones leading the way.
The Lady Maroons mounted a rally of their own late in the fifth set spearheaded by Isa Molde.
UP scored five straight points, the first four courtest of Molde, to pull to within two, 14-12, before Valdez found the hole on a crosscourt hit.
Molde tallied a team-high 22 points while Kathy Bersola added 19 points, highlighted by eight blocks for UP, which dropped to 1-3.