MANILA, Philippines — Tila isang ‘blessing in disguise’ para kay national team member Alyssa Valdez na nasungkit ng kanyang koponang Creamline Cool Smashers ang back-to-back championship sa Open Conference ng Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
Pinaluhod ng Cool Smashers ang karibal na PetroGazz Angels, 29-27, 25-22 27-25, sa Game Two ng best-of-three Finals series nila kamakalawa para muling magreyna sa All-Filipino tourney.
Para kay Valdez, maraming hindi inaasahang pangyayari ang pinagdaanan ng kanilang tropa ngayong conference pero kahit na magkaganoon man ay masaya pa rin sila na maibulsa ang kampeonato sa dulo.
“I think maraming nangyari in this conference na hindi namin inaasahan. But I would love to think that it was a blessing in disguise kasi when we left also, I got injured, Jia (Morado) had to go to the national team, we had to go to training, lahat kami nag-step up,” litanya ni Valdez.
“We grew as a team din this conference. Actually, napakahirap ng pagkuha ng panalo namin. But I believe we had so many struggles and challenges this conference, that’s why we pulled through.”
Pinuri rin ng two-time PVL Most Valuable Player ang tapang at determinasyon na ipinamalas ng Gazz Angels hindi lamang sa title series kundi maging sa buong season ng liga.
Aminado rin si Valdez na hindi naging madali para sa kanila na makuha ang titulo dahil binigyan sila ng dikdikang laro ng PetroGazz kaya’t aasahan nilang babawi ito sa 2019 PVL Reinforced Conference.
“I would love to say congratulation to the whole Petro Gazz team dahil hindi biro ‘yung ginawa nila hanggang umabot sa finals at ipakita ‘yung full game nila,” wika ni Valdez.