Alyssa Valdez, the team captain of Creamline, missed out on the team's championship run in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference due to an injury. However, the three-time PVL MVP is hoping to recover in time to join the national women's volleyball team in the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
Valdez acknowledged that there's only a small chance she can join the national team bound for Cambodia, but she is willing to grab the opportunity to help the team. She trusts the process and hopes to come back 100 percent.
The former Ateneo star is excited about the possibility of playing with her Creamline teammates, namely Jia De Guzman, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, and Kyla Atienza. Valdez believes that their familiarity with each other will give the national team an advantage in the SEA Games.
"For the past years, we've really been looking for the system and familiarity of the team. Hopefully, it will be an advantage for us going to the SEA Games," Valdez said.
She added that the team is always open to learning and is under Coach Jorge, so they really have to listen to him and apply his system in their games.
Valdez missed Thursday night's Game Three where Creamline secured its second straight All-Filipino crown after a come-from-behind victory over Petro Gazz. However, she expressed how proud she was of what the team achieved throughout the conference.
"This series was really intense. I'm just very, very proud of them. I've been saying since day one that I've seen them work really hard. They are super focused on their goal this conference," said Valdez.
Whether or not Valdez gets to play in the upcoming SEA Games, her presence and leadership as the team captain of Creamline and her willingness to join the national team prove her dedication to the sport and her desire to represent the Philippines.
