Alyssa Valdez left in the dark after coach Bundit opted to play her against San Sebastian

AS perplexed as everyone, so was Alyssa Valdez after being fielded in during Ateneo’s game against San Sebastian in the Shakey’s V-League Season 12 Collegiate Conference at The Arena in San Juan on Sunday.

“Hindi ko rin alam honestly,” said the charming UAAP back-to-back Most Valuable Player after briefly seeing action in the Lady Eagles’ 25-17, 25-13, 25-21 win over the Lady Stags.

Earlier, the 22-year-old pride of San Juan Batangas admitted she will sit out the rest of the conference as per the advice of coach Tai Bundit and her doctors after a grueling season that saw her play all-year round.

Valdez already skipped the team’s opening game against University of Santo Tomas last week.

But to her surprise, Bundit played her in the third set and finished the game with five points.

“Siguro kasi madaming injuries sa team, kapos kami sa players, and as their teammate, it’s my responsibility to step up and play,” said Valdez.

Bundit later said her star player already had enough training to play again. However, there’s no guarantee that she will continue playing for the off-season tournament.

“She had training already but (I’m) not yet sure (to field her) next game, I will check,” Bundit told Spin.ph.

But Valdez said she’ll be ready in case Bundit will let her play again on Sunday against La Salle Dasmarinas.

She stressed her experience playing in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore had taught her a lesson to be always on her toes.

“Always be prepared lang,” she said. “Sa Singapore dati nabasa ng ulan ‘yung sapatos ko, sabi ko kay coach Tai, ‘coach no shoes’, sabi niya sa akin, ‘no as a player you always have to bring two pairs of shoes’. So ‘yung little things na ganoon ang mga natututunan ko.”