MANILA, Philippines – Alyssa Valdez is no longer putting up the amazing numbers she used during the height of her power.
Even playing time has been unusual for the “Phenom,” especially on a team as organized as Creamline that features a group of proven and battle-tested stars.
Her impact, however, remains as strong as ever, her calm presence and focused leadership serving as a guiding light as the Cool Smashers captured a record-tying 11th Major League Volleyball championship.
For Valdez, even if his role has changed, his competitive nature remains.
“I just want to enjoy playing volleyball. At this point in my career, I want to prove, not to other people but to myself, that I’m here because I still want it and I still have it,” said Valdez.
A constant figure
Valdez has been with Creamline through it all: its dynastic rise, its supposed fall, and its resurgence.
He is one of only four players who were part of all 11 Cool Smashers titles along with Jema Galanza, Michele Gumabao, and Kyla Atienza.
The 11 championships included the first ever Grand Slam in PVL history as Creamline dominated all three tournaments – the All-Filipino Conference, Enhanced, and Invitational – in the 2024 season.
However, cracks have slowly appeared in what seemed like an impenetrable wall of Cool Smashers.
Creamline fell short of its All-Filipino five-peat bid after losing to Petro Gazz in the finals to start the 2024-25 season, then fell short of the title streak in the next three tournaments: PVL On Tour, Invitational, and Reinforced.
It marked the Cool Smashers’ longest title drought in franchise history, having never gone more than two games without a championship since their first title in the 2018 Enhanced Conference.
But Creamline regained its position atop PVL, largely due to bringing back some old reliables in Jia de Guzman and Bernadeth Pons.
De Guzman suited up for the Cool Smashers for the first time since 2023 after spending several years playing in Japan, while Pons returns following his stint with the Alas Pilipinas beach volleyball team, highlighted by a Southeast Asian Games gold medal.
With the band back together, Creamline swept the Cignal Super Spikers in a best-of-three title series to claim its seventh All-Filipino title.
“One of the things that I am very grateful for this meeting is that we explained ourselves anew and found each other. We got to know each other better. It also makes me happy because this is the first time we are complete again,” said Valdez.
While the Cool Smashers undoubtedly have the talent to succeed, it pays to have someone like Valdez as a reinforcement.
“Ate Ly is one of the greatest leaders we have in the team. In terms of experience, he is definitely ahead. In important moments, he would always have important tips or advice that helped us win,” said De Guzman.
From team veterans to newcomers, everyone listens when Valdez speaks.
“Ate Aly’s role is still huge, especially during the series. Her leadership in our team is important. She has a big impact when it comes to motivating us, and I am very happy that we can carry out her instructions on the court,” said Creamline rookie Sheena Toring.
I still got it
Valdez can still burn opponents if given the chance.
In the Cool Smashers’ do-or-die match against the Akari Chargers in the playoffs, the 32-year-old scored 20 points with 19 rebounds and 8 rebounds in a four-set victory that sent Creamline to the final four.
His other double-digit efforts included a 22-point performance in a five-set win over Cignal to end the preliminary round, and a 10-point outing in a five-set win over PLDT High Speed Hitters in the round-robin semifinals.
Valdez missed a goal in the finals and appeared in three sets, but still came out on top in capturing a 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 16-25, 15-11 victory in Game 2 on Thursday, April 23.
Down on serve in the match zone, Valdez almost gave up the basketball before Tots Carlos scored on Cignal star Vanie Gandler to seal the Cool Smashers’ brand new championship.
In many ways, that performance embodied Valdez’s contributions to the team.
“The importance of a player – it doesn’t come from the playing time he gets; it’s what we do for the team, regardless of whether we’re on the court or not,” said De Guzman.
“We all have roles to play. Whether we get a little playing time, whether we get a lot of playing time, we’re all important to the team.” – Rappler.com
