Alyssa Valdez caps off a rollercoaster 2024 that’s brought about a number of lessons at this stage in her life and volleyball career.
Alyssa Valdez had a simple, but perfect term to describe what has been a hectic 2024 in her life and storied volleyball career.
Reflecting on a year filled with ups and downs, the Phenom described her 2024 as a “rollercoaster ride” after navigating through life with a nagging knee injury that sidelined her for much of the 2024 PVL season with the Creamline Cool Smashers.
“I was able to play during the first few months [of 2024], I was able to also get the championships, but ‘yung struggle also. ‘Yung makabalik ng 100 percent after my injuries,” Valdez reflected after Creamline’s year-ending win over the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Thursday.
You may recall that Alyssa Valdez only played during the 2024 All-Filipino Conference last season, before sitting out the Reinforced and Invitational Conferences due to the said knee injury. At the time, she could only watch as the Cool Smashers went through a grueling schedule that culminated in Philippine volleyball’s first-ever Grand Slam.
The Phenom has since returned to the court for the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference, playing in all of Creamline’s first four games for the new PVL season. On top of this, the Cool Smashers’ win over ZUS Coffee on Thursday was also Valdez’s best game in her return after finishing with 17 points in three out of five sets played.
“And now, to end [2024] on a high note also, na nakapaglaro na ulit ako, so talagang roller coaster of emotions! So I’m just very blessed, and if I may say this has been a learning curve for me this year,” said Valdez, who first returned to the taraflex last November 16 against the Petro Gazz Angels in Ynares Center Antipolo.
“Parang na-realize ko talaga na my age is not…Age is just a number, but definitely, I’m learning so much in this point of time,” the Batangas native said following the 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13 win over the Thunderbelles.
And with 2025 fast approaching, Alyssa Valdez will also be ending 2024 with a newfound level of perseverance. After all, she herself dealt with a level of uncertainty due to her injuries, which came with an equally-challenging recovery period.
Creamline’s dynasty was also tested throughout the 2024 season thanks to a mix of increasing competition and key losses including Valdez. But much like their captain, the Cool Smashers persevered to reassert their status as Philippine volleyball’s winningest squad.
“I’d say…this year has been a learning curve, and it taught me something: It’s not over until it’s over,” Valdez shared. “Kasi sa lahat ng mga games namin, parang pinu-prove talaga ni Lord na hanggang ‘di tapos ang laban, wag kayong susuko, never give up talaga.”
“Hanggang kanina, ‘yun ‘yung pino-prove talaga samin. So thank you Lord!” the 10-time PVL champ added as Creamline was put to the test by an upset-seeking ZUS Coffee squad.
Alyssa Valdez’s challenging 2024 also taught her to value her life outside of volleyball, of which her team is equally supportive of.
“One thing [I’ve] learned also is that kailangan may balance talaga in work-life, and our management has been very generous din talaga for giving us mga trips so naba-balance na may saya and nagkakakilala kami on and off the court, so ‘yun talaga…it’s a work-life balance and walang titigil!”
Banner image courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League