Creamline team captain Alyssa Valdez is slowly but surely working her way back to peak form after an undisclosed injury kept her on the sidelines for much of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season.
After a solid start in the All-Filipino Conference, Valdez was forced to miss the Cool Smashers' Grand Slam run in both the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences due to the unspecified injury.
But the three-time league MVP is determined to make a strong comeback, and her hard work in practices and scrimmages is putting her on the right track.
"Well, I’ve been practicing with the team and actually doing scrimmages also. I’ve been able to play as well in our practice games and tune-up games. So, I’d say I’ve been doing pretty well," Valdez shared.
The 31-year-old outside hitter’s road to recovery has included an intense training camp with the Rebisco-backed squad, which kicked off in Taiwan and wrapped up with final preparations in the Philippines.
During this time, Creamline even squared off in a tune-up match against a Japanese team, providing Valdez with valuable experience as she readies herself for the upcoming 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
Despite the injury setback, Valdez is taking a patient approach to her rehabilitation, understanding the importance of returning to full strength.
"Slowly getting there. We’re all taking our time kasi syempre, we don’t want to get back again to zero. Definitely, working double para makatulong at maging one hundred percent na talaga this conference," she said.
The nine-time PVL champion emphasized her commitment to contribute at the highest level for a Creamline team aiming for its fifth consecutive All-Filipino title in this six-month-long tournament.
"Hopefully, I’m really hopeful na makatulong and maka-contribute ako this coming conference," she added with optimism.
Though Valdez is not yet certain of her exact status for the team’s opening match against Petro Gazz on Saturday in Antipolo, she remains ready to do whatever is needed.
“It depends on Coach Sherwin [Meneses] pa rin naman at the end of the day, but everyone’s ready to play. Everyone’s really there to help the team,” Valdez said.
She concluded with a promise: “Kapag tinawag tayo ni coach, I’ll be there always up to the challenge.”
