Ateneo’s Alyssa Valdez during practice. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
ALYSSA Valdez is back after a three-month hiatus from competition,
The popular spiker will lead rookie squad Bureau of Customs today as it clashes with University of the Philippines at 6 p.m. in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference at Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Valdez last saw action in July for BaliPure, which finished third in the Open Conference behind the Michele Gumabao-led Pocari Sweat and Philippine Air Force.
Since then, she has had stints here and abroad playing friendlies and conducting clinics.
Now her legions of fans await if she can still play at top level.
“It’s a new challenge and I know it’s going to be exciting,” said Valdez, the league’s two-time Most Valuable Player.
Valdez is also bracing for a showdown against former team BaliPure which they will meet Oct. 12.
Joining Valdez in the Customs squad are Pau Soriano, Lilet Mabbayad and Thai imports Kanjana Kuthaisong and Natanicha Jaisen.
University of Santo Tomas tries to ride the momentum of its 25-15, 20-25, 25-13, 25-21 victory over Air Force last Saturday as it shoots for a second straight win against Coast Guard at 4 p.m.
Both matches will be aired live over ABS-CBN Sports + Action Channel 17 or 23 and via streaming on sports.abs-cbn.com and v-league.ph, according to the organizing Sports Vision.
The Coast Guard Lady Dolphins bowed to Laoag, 25-8, 25-15, 25-16 also in last Saturday’s kickoff of the league’s third conference.
Meanwhile, Cignal and Instituto Estetico Manila collide in the lone Spikers’ Turf Season 2 Reinforced Conference match at 12:30 p.m.