Despite bridesmaid finish, Valdez leaves UAAP with head held high

MANILA, Philippines – A UAAP championship would have been a fitting ending to what had been a fairy tale collegiate career for Alyssa Valdez.

She would have to settle for the next best thing – a runner-up finish.

Valdez played her last UAAP game for Ateneo with a heartbreaking 25-19, 21-25, 16-25, 16-25 defeat to archrival La Salle.

After La Salle's Kim Dy rammed in the title-clinching kill that put an end to the Lady Eagles' two-year title reign and hand the Lady Archers the UAAP women's volleyball title, the stunned Valdez just stood in disbelief and in tears.

When the din of La Salle celebration subsided, the reigning three-time UAAP went to La Salle setter Kim Fajardo, her former high school teammate, and congratulated each other, hugged her teammates and school officials and acknowledged the throngs of blue-clad Ateneo fans from the stands.

With her right fist raised, she sang her last Ateneo hymn.

She then hugged her coach, Thai Tai Bundit, waited for a few minutes, gamely received the silver medal and the runner-up trophy while her loyal crowd chanted: "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

And then she went straight to their dugout where they spent the next half hour hugging and crying together.

Then it was all better again.

"God has another plan for the team and I think we're just blessed for being here and fighting in the finals, we couldn't ask for more," said Valdez. "It would have been a good ending if we were the champions but we didn't make it."

"Congratulations to La Salle. They deserve it and they played as a team and they were awesome today and deserved the win," she added.

She then described her UAAP journey: "Not even a see-saw, it's not even a roller-coaster. I can't even describe it, I'm just so happy. I get to know myself even better, get to discover myself and get to meet a lot of people and because of that I'm happy and really blessed."

While one part of her story closed, Valdez is excited for another door to open.

"Another chapter has ended and it will open another and another challenge I guess. This is one of the best challenges I encountered and I thank God is preparing me for a bigger challenge in life. It’s not the end."

And as Valdez went out into the dark of the night, she will go home with heads unbowed knowing she has done everything to make her alma mater and fans proud.

Life goes on for a shining star like Valdez.