Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Alyssa Valdez has always been a constant figure in the championship round of any tournament she’s been in since she entered Ateneo in 2010.
She went to five straight UAAP Finals and won two consecutive titles with the Lady Eagles. She’s also featured several times in the championship series of the Shakey’s V-League, which then, became the Premier Volleyball League.
Those glitzy appearances, however, ended in 2016.
Valdez’s last finals series was with Bureau of Customs during thr Reinforced Conference wherein the Transformers settled for the silver medal.
And now that Valdez is back in the big dance, she can’t help but feel revved up as she plans to reach the pinnacle of the PVL Reinforced Conference with Creamline.
“Well what’s happening has been really hyping me up especially when you’ve got championship-caliber teammates with you,” said Valdez in Filipino after the Cool Smashers beat PayMaya, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Helping Valdez in her quest for another title are former rivals in Michele Gumabao and Melissa Gohing, both of whom played for the Lady Eagles’ finals opponent De La Salle, and former Ateneo teammate Jia Morado.
And there’s also Thai international Kuttika Kaewpin who was Valdez’ teammate in 3BB Nakornnont.
“Being with champions just drives you and everyone wants to be a champion,” said Valdez, who had 18 points against the High Flyers. “The vibe just spreads to the team and everyone wants to win the title.”