Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret after missing the last two sets of Creamline’s championship loss to the Kurashiki Ablaze in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference.
The Creamline team captain appeared to be in pain in their championship game, sitting out the fourth and fifth sets. Valdez was limping when she accepted her 2nd Best Outside Spiker award.
“I’m very happy I’m able to play games. It just so sad na hindi ko natapos yung conference physically,” said an emotional Valdez after being limited to just six points in their 25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-20, 13-15 loss on Sunday at Philsports Arena,
“I’ve learned so much. I’m just grateful to be back on the court with my teammates. After this, a lot of reasons to improve more and stay focused on getting back 100 percent,” she added.
The three-time PVL MVP, who also didn’t finish their semis game against the Japanese club last Friday, said it’s normal for recovering athletes like her to feel the pain, which is also part of her journey from the right knee injury she sustained last December before coming back in the midseason conference.
“I think it’s part of the journey of being able to play again. After every injury naman merong mga hiccups and mga challenges pa rin so on the brighter side, nakakalakad naman at nakakalaro. Focus on improving pa and magpalakas so yun lang,” Valdez said. “At the end of the day everyone in our team really did a good job from our bench. Talagang kahit sino kasi andun na yung sistema namin so kahit sinong kuhanin sa team namin talagang magdedeliver.”
“As an athlete normal naman na merong masakit. I just came from an injury also. Medyo nakakalungkot na out of all the days din,” she added. “But no excuses. Japan really did a good job today, everyone in our team played very well. So we’re just grateful for this opportunity na ang dami naming natutunan (we learned a lot) but isa lang yung mananalo (only one team wins) and we want to congratulate the Japan team.”
Valdez couldn’t hold back her tears as she reflected on her journey from missing seven months of action to winning her seventh Best Outside Spiker award after emerging as the eighth-highest scorer with 57 points and the second-best attacker with a 39.23 percent attacking rate.
Alyssa Valdez of Creamline Cool Smashers receives the Second Best Outside Spiker award in the 2023 PVL Invitational Conference, on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Philsports Arena in Pasig City. PVL PHOTO
“I didn’t really expect na makakakuha ako ng award (to get an award). It was really because of my teammates, grabe support nila (their support was tremendous). I think I wouldn’t be able to overcome this thing, these challenges if not for them and my coaches so it’s really for everyone. Wala talaga sa expectation ko na makakuha ng award (I really didn’t expect to win an award) but I’m grateful. More reasons, more inspiration to be good for the next conference pero it’s really because of them kaya ko nakuha yon (that’s why I got that award),” the 30-year-old hitter said.
“Everyone in our team deserves it. Jema [Galanza] also, played really well this conference from offense, defense, everything. I’ve seen her mature also so Jema deserves as well the Best Outside Hitter [award].”
Despite losing the crown, Valdez relished all the learnings they got from the third-division Japanese team, which swept all its six matches in the tournament.
“It’s always nice to learn from different countries and their system. And we’re inspired from the VNL to this PVL experience. We still have a lot to learn and adjust. But of course, as Filipinos, we all have our own strengths and weaknesses also so it’s just so nice to have these opportunities. Later on, we’ll benefit from this,” she said. “Hopefully, we will learn more and we get to play more teams from other countries to keep on improving the quality of Philippine volleyball.”
This is the first time that the Cool Smashers lost a championship-clinching game since the 2021 PVL bubble tournament in Ilocos Norte at the hands of the Chery Tiggo Crossovers. But Creamline remained the winningest club with six titles in nine finals appearances.
For Valdez, it’s still a good showing for the Cool Smashers ahead of the third conference later this year.
“I think the main thing that happened this conference is everyone really stepped up. It’s a very short tournament so everyone was capable and able to contribute to the team and I think that’s a good sign we got this conference. We’re hoping for better and more improved Creamline Cool Smashers next conference,” she said.
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