Even at this stage of her career, Alyssa Valdez continues to learn thanks to the golden standards that she and the Creamline Cool Smashers have established over the years.
As the Creamline Cool Smashers capped off their preliminary round campaign in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference against the Nxled Chameleons, Alyssa Valdez quickly acknowledged the intensity of their everyday training ahead of the straight-set victory.
The Cool Smashers were fresh off a 25-15, 26-24, 25-19 sweep of the Chameleons on Thursday, with Valdez putting up 16 points, seven excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions in the one hour and 39-minute contest.
“Personally, my motivation lang was our practices, during our training kasi, head-to-head din talaga ‘yung mga counterattacks namin and we were able to implement everything na pinractice namin heading into the game today [last Thursday],” she reflected post-game.
“‘Yun ‘yung motivation namin, kasi kung gaano kahirap ‘yung practice, sana madala namin and mapag-aralan namin dito sa game.”
As it stands, the Cool Smashers’ high-level training is something that its players have long praised. Bernadeth Pons shared how this has sharpened her in-game resolve, while Jema Galanza draws inspiration from the team’s innate competitiveness.
Even newcomer Bea de Leon was left in awe of the team’s refusal to settle despite their dominance over the playing field.
“Well, I’d say from 0 to 100 talaga, 100 percent all the time, my teammates give their effort 100 percent every single time in practice,” Valdez told The GAME in a quick follow-up chat. “I think that’s why we overcome all these challenges also, na whenever bibigyan kami ng mga sitwasyon na kahit medyo mas mahirap, naitatawid namin because of our intense practices.”
But while there is the innate refusal to settle, the Phenom bared how this is balanced out by a coaching staff that puts a premium on physical conditioning and equal opportunities.
“All the players on the team, ano talaga sila, they’ll give their all every single time! And Coach Sherwin [Meneses and his staff] is the one managing our quality minutes and load management,” Valdez, one of Creamline’s pioneering players, explained.
“So kaya maganda din ‘yung nagiging sistema namin sa team and it’s nice to have that kind of mentality in practice in terms of ‘yun ‘yung makukuha mo sa lahat ng mga players, and maganda rin ‘yung mentality ng mga coaches.”
Valdez also acknowledged the “advantages and disadvantages” of such a high-level culture in line with her recovery from a knee injury. Given the team’s natural competitiveness, there will always be the desire to join these training sessions, even if your body may still be on the mend, according to the Phenom.
“The disadvantage is definitely you want to join the practices right away, having that mentality na 100 percent ka, but at the end of the day, kailangan mo rin i-pause ‘yung sarili mo and to step away para makita mo na hindi pa rin talaga kaya to manage that,” said Valdez, who missed most of the 2024 PVL season due to her knee injury.
But on the other hand, Creamline will be the first to tell Ate Ly to keep pushing forward, even on the toughest days of her recovery journey.
“Hindi ka talaga susuko and titigil, and you have that environment that pushes you all the way sa 100 percent mo hanggang ma-reach mo talaga ‘yung goal mo,” she reflected.
And for everything she’s achieved, Alyssa Valdez will be the first to tell you how she still continues to grow through the very culture she helped establish. The three-time PVL Most Valuable Player admits struggling in aspects such as service receptions, which she has continued to refine through Creamline’s intense, but healthy team practices.
Apart from receiving guidance from the defensive-minded Meneses, Valdez shared how she’s become a target at the service line by her teammates.
“Kasi technically I’m the weakest passer, receiver, defender din sa team since back in college,” Valdez humbly admitted. “So I’d say na ‘yun din ‘yung ginagawa nila para one, ma-improve ako and two, i-challenge din nila ‘yung sarili nila, so honestly it’s a win-win for both of us.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.