After a season sidelined by injury, Alyssa "The Phenom" Valdez is set to make her much-anticipated return to the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) with the Creamline Cool Smashers.
“In a week or 2, we're gonna go back to the lab and train again. But for me, I'm still doing therapy and conditioning training para mas makasabay ako pagbalik namin sa training,” said the volleyball star.
Valdez sustained a knee injury during the bronze-medal match against Chery Tiggo in the 2022 Reinforced Conference, which kept her from participating in the 2024 PVL season and the Creamline Cool Smashers historic Grand Slam run.
The 31-year-old athlete expressed her eagerness to return to the court during the upcoming All-Filipino Conference, which is set to start on November 5, 2024.
“Hopefully this coming All-Filipino conference, this next conference na, [sana] makabalik na rin po talaga ako. I miss playing volleyball, I miss my teammates on the court. The thrill of the games, iba talaga kapag nanonood ka lang kaysa naglalaro ka. So, I'm really looking forward and hopefully, magkita-kita tayo sa next conference.”
Despite missing the action, Valdez has remained actively involved with the team, attending practices and supporting her teammates.
“I'm always there in practice also even if I'm just doing therapy, I make sure na my presence is always there, looking at them, seeing them, looking them in the eye, and tapping their back. Gano'n lang, mga little gesture but since we've been together for so long I think yung mga maliliit na bagay na 'yon, it adds help sa mas malalaking bagay,” Valdez explained.
