Alyssa Valdez (left) with Shola Alvarez (right) and a fan on stage during the PVL grand fans day. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Alyssa Valdez, one of the most recognizable faces Philippine volleyball, is hoping to see continuous improvement in sport, starting with the national team.
Valdez, who is also one of the country’s top volleyball stars, is elated with the response to the national team call up, which invited 34 players to join the tryouts two weeks ago, but still sees a lot of room for growth.
“We’re all happy because slowly there’s been a solid show support for the national team, and of course I hope we can improve Philippine volleyball,” said Valdez on Friday during the fans’ day of the Premier Volleyball League which drew a big crowd.
Valdez herself showed up to the first session of the two-day of the auditions for the national team, where collegiate players like University of Santo Tomas’ Cherry Rondina and University of the Philippines’ Diana Carlos also attended.
De Jesus, just like Valdez, is aware that other players, especially those in the collegiate leagues, could not just simply go to the tryouts in the expense of their time with their school teams.
“It’s hard to set tryouts when there are still tournaments that are going on,” said De Jesus in Filipino during one of the tryouts. “They can’t just leave their own training sessions with their school or mother teams.”
Valdez, though, believes that once the 80th season of the UAAP is finished, more players will come to the tryouts.
Far Eastern University’s Bernadeth Pons and Kyla Atienza have yet to attend a tryout due to their commitment to the Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP, but the finish to the season could eventually allow the two student-athletes to take part in the national program.
“We’re just waiting for the finals of the UAAP and we’re hoping we can start as early possible,” said Valdez.