FORMER Ateneo superstar Alyssa Valdez is back home to fulfill a pledge to become part of the national women’s volleyball team for the Asian Volleyball Confederation Women’s Seniors Championship Manila in July and Malaysia 28th Southeast Asian Games in August.
Valdez, a three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines and Shakey’s V-Leasgue Most Valuable Player, emphasized her desire to don the national colors by going public on Sunday when she cheered the Lady Eagles in their 25-14, 25-19, 25-21 victory that snapped the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons’ four-game streak in Season 79 action at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“I think it’s every player’s ultimate goal—to be member of the national team,” Valdez said.
Valdez flew in from Bangkok where she was tapped to play as an import—the first Filipino to be one—for 3BB Nakornnont in the Women’s Volleyball Thailand League.
The 23-year-old Batanguena will join the second tryout called by national coach Francis Vicente, Valdez’s mentor in high school at University of Santo Tomas, on Saturday at the University of Southeastern Philippines gymnasium in Davao City.
The wing spiker said playing in Thailand, a volleyball powerhouse in Southeast Asia, has provided her high-level exposure in the sport.
“I’m just a beginner, a rookie [in Thailand]. Skills-wise, talent-wise, Thailand’s level is farther from us,” she said. “But what I like the most in Thailand is I’m challenged to do better.”
Valdez has played three games with 3BB Nakornnont, but the team lost each of them to Bangkok Glass, Supreme Chonburi and Rangsit State University for a 6-5 win-loss record that was good for fourth place in the league.
Valdez said playing against world-class Thai players—among them Pleumjit Thinakow, Wilavan Apinyapong, Guedpard Pornpun and Ajcharaporn Kongyot, all national team mainstays of their country—and competing alongside teammate Kokram Pimpichaya, a Thailand youth standout, has pushed her to do more in the sport.
“It’s really one way of reminding me that you can’t really stop [training and learning,” Valdez said. “There’s always room for improvement. The top Asian volleyball players are inspirations for me.”
Valdez will immediately return to Bangkok after attending the tryout.