Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Alyssa Valdez has represented the Philippines several times throughout her career, but her latest inclusion could face some problems due to her commitments with her club team.
Valdez is part of the 20-woman national volleyball team pool formed by the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas Inc. The final team will play in the Philippine Superliga Invitational Conference as a guest team and that is where the problem arises.
Creamline, Valdez’ mother club, is part of PSL’s rival Premier Volleyball League and that alone raises questions if the 24-year-old outside spiker can join the national team in the Invitational Conference.
“It’s going to be a long process for everyone,” said Valdez Wednesday at Arellano University after the team’s practice. “If Creamline will see the benefit of this for our team and the national team, I think that there won’t be any question.”
“We have to meet halfway also because there are a lot of commitments.”
Valdez, however, said she can play with the national team in the PSL as long as the schedule is not a problem.
National team head coach Shaq Delos Santos also said that they reached out to the officials in the PVL to allow Valdez and Creamline teammate Jia Morado, if both are chosen in the final lineup, to play in the PSL as part of the national team on a guest team basis.
“We’ve coordinated with them and of course I’ve also talked to the players what their situation is,” said Delos Santos in Filipino. “We’re talking to the team management and they say it’s okay with them, they don’t have a problem.”
Valdez and Morado showed up for the last two practices of the team but both did not join the drills as they are nursing injuries.
Morado has a right shoulder strain while Valdez hurt her right Achilles tendon.
“If there are no conflicts to our training or our games then it’s okay,” said Valdez. “We’re in the process of talking to our club team and clarifying everything.”