A general view of the crowd during a game between Team USA and Japan in the VNL 2024 at Mall of Asia Arena.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez believes that the Philippines has become a volleyball country after a successful hosting of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) and soldout gate attendance in the local leagues, PVL and UAAP as well as Alas Pilipinas games.
“I think, I’m gonna say it but I think right now, we’re a volleyball country, we’re a volleyball nation,” Valdez told reporters after watching the conclusion of the VNL Manila leg between USA and Japan on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“It’s so nice to see a jampacked arena.”
READ: VNL 2024: Experience makes USA’s Manila stint a ‘great success’
Alyssa Valdez meets Micah Christenson. #VNL2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Xi7GduKmqj
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 23, 2024
The three-time PVL MVP of Creamline was among the 12,000 fans on the final day of VNL Week 3 and she had a fan-girl moment with USA’s Micah Christenson and Erik Shoji and Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa and Kento Miyaura.
“It’s so nice that they’re all cheering for both USA and Japan. It’s a great scenario and situation inside the MOA Arena,” Valdez said. “We’re just really hoping that the support of the volleyball community here in the Philippines and all over the world will continue.”
Valdez, who also serves as the Spikers’ Turf president, said this kind of international hosting will continue to help Philippine volleyball grow
READ: VNL 2024: USA star Taylor Averill wants to come back, explore PH
She also hopes the VNL will encourage more fans to support the local men’s volleyball league.
“Hopefully, this will help us improve And I hope that this will inspire more fans to watch the Spikers’ Turf and other volleyball games as we support the other teams here in the VNL,” she said.
Valdez will be leading Creamline’s bid to end a six-year Reinforced Conference title drought in July.