Alyssa Valdez all smiles after her record-setting feat in the Shakey’s V-League. Photo by Marc Reyes
Getting caught in traffic. Resetting the volleyball scoring record.
It was just another day in the office for Alyssa Valdez.
Already the most popular player in the country, Valdez also became its most prolific, scoring 39 points—the most by any local—in Bureau of Customs’ recent victory, a hard-fought 18-25, 27-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-9 decision of Laoag in the Shakey’s V-League Reinforced Conference.
“I’m really happy for the whole team, we really helped each other. If you give your 101 percent, you get what you work for,” said Valdez.
READ: Valdez unleashes 39 points, tows Customs past Laoag
Apparently, though, high-scoring volleyball phenoms are not immune to the hardships of the real world, getting a taste of rush-hour traffic as she began her career behind the office desk.
“Traffic was very bad, I almost didn’t make it [to one a game],” said Valdez in Filipino. “I didn’t realize traffic was that bad from Katipunan to Ortigas.”
The former Ateneo spiker just started work as foundation program assistant for Rebisco in Ortigas.
The three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player and Southeast Asian Games flag-bearer last year finds it refreshing that her officemates appeared not too star struck with her too.
READ: Valdez, import-less Customs easily beats UP
“They treat me as a normal co-employee,” said Valdez, who is allowed to offset her working hours when she has a game with Customs in the Shakey’s V-League.
Valdez takes a break today as University of Santo Tomas guns for win No. 3 against debuting BaliPure at Philsports Arena.
The Tigresses will test the Water Defenders at 6 p.m., right after the 4 p.m. match between Coast Guard and University of the Philippines.
In Spiker’s Turf action, Champion and Instituto Estetico Manila duel at 12:30 p.m.