MANILA, Philippines – It has been a rough two years, to say the least, for three-time PVL MVP Alyssa Valdez.
As her Creamline Cool Smashers continued to extend their unchallenged dynastic dominance over the rest of the pro league, the 31-year-old superstar had all but been reduced to a mere positive spectator, sparingly playing games and sitting out for months-long stretches due to nagging injuries.
With every new conference, however, comes renewed hope, and Creamline’s trademark “good vibes” were certainly on the upswing as Valdez made another triumphant return, four months after she last saw the taraflex, in the Cool Smashers’ eventual eyebrow-raising rout of rival Petro Gazz.
Save for Valdez herself, few were happier for her return than fellow former league MVP Jema Galanza, who led the surprisingly quick 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 win with 13 points while her partner-in-crime scored 4 in a limited, but impactful run off the bench.
“I’m really happy because — and she knows this — we’ve talked about some stuff behind closed doors,” Galanza said in Filipino, hinting of tough times amid Valdez’s extended absences. “But all we’ve talked about will pass.”
“Now that I see her happy again and playing again, it’s a huge thing. Her old form is almost there, just a few more steps to go.”
Mental battles
In between suffering a major knee injury at the end of 2022 and her still ongoing rehab to kick off the 2024-2025 season, Valdez gave a peek into an undoubtedly harrowing mental beatdown amid her recovery, as she nearly broke down in tears after being awarded the Second Best Outside Spiker in 2023.
In what now looks like a definitive step down from her legendary prime, Valdez has looked at peace with her new role in the vaunted Creamline rotation, actively coaching and celebrating while she’s benched, and giving her absolute best in the limited minutes she’s given.
“To be honest, it wasn’t easy. It’s hot and cold, there are days where it’s okay and days where it’s really not,” Valdez said in Filipino regarding her years-long recovery phases. “It’s part of the process, really, and that’s where you strengthen your mind and body. That’s where you reinvent yourself.”
“So I guess that’s why I saw volleyball in a different perspective. That’s why I’m glad to be back and glad to join the sport again.”
Valdez may likely never return to her true, MVP-winning peak especially in a stacked team like the Cool Smashers, but at this point, nagging pain on the knee is not worth the nagging pain on the mind.
In a team that espouses and actually executes collective team effort, Valdez has truly perfected the Creamline way: secured role, mental peace, and most importantly, good vibes. – Rappler.com