Alyssa Valdez will be making her on-court return in the PVL finals as the Creamline Cool Smashers set up a high-stakes rivalry match against the Petro Gazz Angels.
Alyssa Valdez was on the sidelines of the SMART Araneta Coliseum when the Creamline Cool Smashers weathered the Cignal HD Spikers to clinch their historic Grand Slam during the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference in September last year.
Today, Valdez is set to compete once more in that big stage, with the Cool Smashers setting up a best-of-three rivalry clash against the Petro Gazz Angels after dispatching the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on Thursday, also at the Araneta Coliseum.
“We’re very, very excited, and it’s always nice, ‘yung feeling to be back in the finals, and to put everything that we worked on all throughout our training every single day na malagay namin sa mga games,” Valdez said post-game following Creamline’s commanding 25-19, 25-15, 25-15 win over the Titans to seal 14th finals appearance.
“So honestly, ako, excited lang ako with the team again, to be back on the court, on and off the court din. Kung ano ‘yung strategy ni Coach [Sherwin Meneses] so we’ll support lang, but other than that I’m very much excited to be back in the finals,” added the 31-year-old, who finished with 11 points and seven digs against Choco Mucho on Thursday.
Valdez has been a steady presence for Creamline since returning to action for this conference, going from an off-the-bench piece that would be inserted as a closer, to being included once again in the starting six.
In returning to Creamline, Valdez also completes a potent wing spiker rotation led by fellow Most Valuable Players Bernadeth Pons, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, and even Michele Guamabao off the bench.
The Phenom, however, admits that she’s still trying to conquer the mental hurdles caused by her nagging knee injury.
“Honestly, I feel like my body says ‘kaya ko’, but syempre mentally, it’s been really tough to be on the other side of the court, struggling with injuries. So iba rin talaga and hands down to all the athletes who have been very, very hardworking to get back on court,” the Creamline skipper admitted.
“So honestly, I would say that I want to be mentally and physically back 100 percent, and it’s really a work in progress.”
Game 1 between Petro Gazz and Creamline’s fifth PVL finals meeting takes place this April 8, also at the Araneta Coliseum. But while she’s excited to be back playing, Valdez is also entering the series with cautious optimism.
After all, the season series is tied at 1-all, with Petro Gazz getting even with the Cool Smashers during their semifinals rematch last March 19 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Sabi nga natin, iba-iba ‘yung mga story ng mga nangyayari every finals. So siguro andoon na din yung kaba, andoon ‘yung excitement, but facing a different challenge right now is something that we take and we accept it,” Valdez said.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.