HER career ended in defeat but Ateneo de Manila volleyball star was very grateful for the five years she spent with the Lady Eagles highlighted by two titles in Seasons 76 and 77.
The 22-year power hitter still wore that infectious smile when she faced the media after Ateneo surrendered the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball crown to arch rival De La Salle.
For five years, Alyssa Valdez faced the Lady Spikers five times and she admitted that La Salle was a better team in their deciding Game Three last Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“They (Lady Spikers) really deserved it. They played well as a team, and they’re really strong,” said the graduating Valdez, who had 31 points in their heartbreaking 25-19, 21-25, 16-25, 16-25 loss in his final game with Ateneo.
“Our team was just thankful to be in the finals because we didn’t expect na aabot kami dito and we didn’t expect na maging No. 1 kami after ng eliminations,” she added. “We couldn’t ask for more we gave our best in any sport naman just doing your best no matter what win or lose, it’s okay.”
After their reign in the last two seasons, the Lady Eagles carried that momentum and posted a 24-game winning streak dating back to Season 76 Finals before La Salle halted it in their first round meeting.
They lost their first game in the second round at the hands of the rookie-laden University of the Philippines but they soared back and won their last six games to clinch the top spot with a 12-2 finish.
Ateneo beat the Lady Maroons in the Final Four to take a crack for a rare three-peat in women’s volleyball.
The Lady Eagles were swept in Game One but put up a brave performance in Game Two, where they came back from two sets down to forced a winner-take-all Game Three.
Ateneo won the first set of Ateneo but La Salle swept the next three sets to reclaim the UAAP crown.
“It is not for us. As much as we want to win as much as we want to bring home the title God really put us in this situation,” Valdez said. “So we really have to accept it but we really have to know when to stop and so we’re gonna give ourselves time to recover and then life goes on.”
“I still believe in my team, our team, in ateneo, Coach Tai [Bundit] and the admin. Win or lose it’s really the school we choose,” she added.
Now that her collegiate career was over, Valdez is now looking for a bigger and challenging endeavor.
“I’m just really thankful for the past five years I’ve been with Ateneo,” she said. “I discovered myself and I found myself but then this is one of the best challenges na na-encounter ko and with this siguro I think God is preparing me for the bigger challenges in real life situations.”
Image credits: ROY DOMINGO