Volleyball is one of the most demanding sports.
It requires good physical fitness and mental toughness to get through the rigors of training and the pressures of matches.
Being on top of one’s game is one thing. Staying that way for a long time is another.
Alyssa Valdez is truly blessed to have done both.
Undoubtedly still the face of Philippine volleyball for more than a decade, the Creamline Cool Smashers skipper has maintained her lofty status despite the emergence of youngbloods raring to make a name for themselves.
What sets her apart from her peers and other volleyball stars is longevity backed by a charisma that endeared her to fans and supporters.
It’s something she credits to the solid support group surrounding her.
“Honestly, it’s just so nice to be surrounded by these competitive, empowered women, and with this amazing coach (Sherwin Meneses), our coaches also, I guess that’s the beauty in our team,” Valdez, who blossomed from a shy girl from San Juan, Batangas to becoming the country’s premier volleyball icon, said.
Despite dealing with an injury that kept her out of commission in the first quarter of the year, the 30-year-old winger has shown unquestionable heart and desire to recover and get back to action in what turned out to be one of the best years in her illustrious career.
Valdez not only overcame the challenge of being sidelined for a while but also proved that she can still pull the trigger and rise to the occasion.
She ended her challenging season by powering the Cool Smashers to a perfect championship run in the Premier Volleyball League 2nd All-Filipino Conference capped by a record-breaking finale against sister-team Choco Mucho.
“There’s no day that you want to prove something to yourself. There’s no day that you won’t show your best to prove that you can be a part of the Creamline Cool Smashers and their community,” she said.
“That is mine, our daily motivation not to get tired of going to training every day,” Valdez added.
“I guess, it’s not a secret, but that is one thing that helps me to keep motivated even if I’m playing for more than probably 20 years.”
But many thought that Valdez would have a hard time getting back into top form after suffering a right knee injury in December 2022 during the battle for third place in the PVL Reinforced Conference.
She then underwent an undisclosed procedure last February that kept her out of the whole inaugural All-Filipino Conference that Creamline eventually ruled.
However, the three-time PVL Most Valuable Player worked her way back into playing shape and even got called up to a fifth straight tour of duty in the Southeast Asian Games although playing sparingly in Cambodia last May.
She also saw limited minutes in the mid-season Invitational Conference where the Cool Smashers finished runner-up to Japanese squad Kurashiki Ablaze.
Fully recovered from her injury, Valdez saved the best for last in the season-ending 2nd AFC despite the challenge of playing sans long-time setter Jia Morado-De Guzman, who signed to play with the Denso Airybees in the Japan V.League
“Well, first of all, it’s my first time to play with Creamline without Jia, it just felt different,” Valdez said.
With a record field of 12 teams, the power-hitter embraced the strategy of Meneses of managing her minutes. It all paid off when Valdez displayed fresh legs and renewed energy in the playoffs.
Conniving with other wingers Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza, the team captain showcased her vintage form and veteran composure as Creamline barreled its way to a 10th finals appearance overall after sweeping Chery Tiggo in the semifinals.
Valdez flexed her muscles in the much-awaited championship match against the Flying Titans, putting up an impressive stat line of 11 points, 11 digs and nine excellent receptions in the Cool Smashers’ four-set Game 1 win.
Before a record-crowd of 24,459 inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the grizzled veteran uncorked eight points in just three sets of play in Creamline’s championship-clinching five-set Game 2 victory.
It was Valdez who hammered the last two points of the game iced by a cold-blooded spike that sealed the almost three-hour battle.
“Well, honestly, I think one thing that works and worked for us, and worked for me at this conference is the experience I had playing for almost how many years,” Valdez said of her heroics.
It was a surreal moment for Valdez, as the win finally slayed the ghost of her last championship match at the same venue that ended with Ateneo de Manila University relinquishing the University Athletic Association of the Philippines crown to archrival De La Salle University back in 2016.
“This is probably my first championship win here at Araneta. This is my first-ever win in Araneta and it’s so timely to end the year with a win,” she said.
“Back in 2016 it was a heartbreaking loss, definitely, something that I will never forget. But it was in the past now as I got a sweet memory here at Araneta. One of the sweetest memories that I have right now.”
Holding seven PVL titles overall, it’s all obvious that Valdez is Creamline’s heart and soul.
With her career showing no signs of slowing down, the only thing that could stop Valdez is herself.
But knowing how competitive she is, Valdez won’t back down from any challenge and will continue to evolve in the years to come.
She will forever be the queen of Philippine volleyball.