Alyssa skips Pinoy Big Brother for SEAG

MANILA, Philippines — Country first.

Alyssa Valdez, the face of Philippine volleyball, has given up her final six spot in the popular reality show Pinoy Big Brother so she could join the national team seeking a medal finish in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games slated May 12 to 23.

“I have commitments to attend to for our country. The national team is preparing for the forthcoming SEA Games. And for this reason, I cannot fulfil my obligation and cannot return to your house,” Valdez told PBB’s Big Brother.

Valdez is one of the biggest stars in the national squad that is eyeing nothing less than a podium finish and, if possible, a first gold medal since the country struck one in the 1993 Singapore SEA Games.

Also part of the team are Jaja Santiago, Kalei Mau, Kat Tolentino, Dawn Macandili.

The Premier Volleyball League Finals MVP and her teammates recently arrived from training in Brazil where they played pick-up games with the Brazilian juniors squad and some local club teams.

They are hard-pressed to deliver a medal after missing out in the 2019 SEA Games in Manila where the men’s team played beyond expectations to win the silver medal.