FILE – Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez reacts during the Cool Smashers game against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the PVL Reinforced Conference semifinals. PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Alyssa Valdez shared that she has fully recovered from a right knee injury ahead of the Creamline Cool Smashers’ title-retention bid in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference beginning Tuesday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The three-time PVL Most Valuable Player bared the good news during her guesting on the TV show, The Game, on Tuesday evening that has been fully participating in Creamline’s practice for the past weeks.
“I’ve been training with the team, full training. I’ve been training with the team for several weeks now,” Valdez said.
“I would say I’m fully recovered, graduated already twice on my hop test. In short, I’m cleared to train 100 percent,” she added.
Creamline libero Kyla Atienza, who was with Valdez during their guesting, said she can attest that her teammate can already spike from the back row during their practice.
However, the 29-year-old spiker said she is still taking her road to PVL comeback gradually since missing the pro action after a bad fall in the Reinforced Conference last December 10.
“Unfortunately, it’s not easy to comeback right away. For seven months, I haven’t been on the court so I’m taking it slow, gradual. Also, the doctors’ advice is to take it slow. I mean we’re always gonna get there, just trust the process,” Valdez said.
Valdez added that although she is physically cleared, the mental challenge from her injury is still there. But thanks to her supportive Cool Smashers, who have been supporting her throughout her recovery progress.
“I would say mentally it’s really hard to actually get back na you’re confident as well. Most definitely the hardest part would be is you always wanna accept the part that you got injured, so the level of play wouldn’t be the same right away when you left the court,” she said.
“It will take time. Gradual lang. But I’m surrounded by phenomenal teammates, amazing teammates, great teammates, mature teammates, and champion teammates. They really help me to keep up also mentally, emotionally, and physically.”
Despite her injury, the Creamline star still represented the country in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, where she played sparingly, highlighted by a game-winning attack against Singapore last May.
Valdez missed the whole All-Filipino Conference but the Cool Smashers, led by Tots Carlos, Jia De Guzman, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, still prevailed by outlasting the Petro Gazz Angels in three games in the Finals to earn their third championship in four tournaments.
“As an athlete, it’s heartbreaking not to play. But to see these girls grow and mature in their craft also from the other perspective is just so nice also. You want that for the volleyball community as well, not just for Creamline. Definitely, for our team, we want everyone to step up all the time and have that responsibility also to take that leadership,” Valdez said.
“I’m not used to not playing on the court, as in for the past 14 years of my life this is the longest I’ve been out. Hands down to all the people who got injured and got back more than 100 percent. They are my inspiration to get back right away because I see them, I feel that I missed volleyball so much and really wanna be with them.”
A tough challenge awaits Creamline in its title defense as three new teams are joining the pro scene and other teams beefed up their respective rosters in the busiest midseason of the PVL, where the Cool Smashers also acquired Bernadeth Pons.
Creamline will face Chery Tiggo, which landed Eya Laure and four other prized rookies, on opening day. Both teams are slated in Pool A, which also has Akari, PLDT, and new team Gerflor.
“I think one thing that will make the difference this conference is whoever’s system will work right away and the team that is healthy all throughout because it’s a really fast conference this Invitationals and everyone is in equal footing because of the quality of players and support of teams. Everything is already there. The level of competition will definitely be higher,” Valdez said.