ALYSSA Valdez is one of the best volleyball players in the country, making powerful hits look easy.
But there are some things that are tough to do for the Phenom.
Like naming an all-time First Six in Philippine volleyball.
Supposedly on the Fastbreak segment of the inaugural SPIN Exclusives episode, the 29-year-old spiker took her sweet time to think of an answer.
“Ang hirap,” Valdez exclaimed with a chuckle, careful not to miss out someone from previous decades.
So instead of naming the best player in each position, Valdez found a “loophole” and settled for her all-time favorite starting unit.
Alyssa Valdez on all-time favorite team
“Ateneo Season 76 UAAP champion team,” Valdez said.
That 2014 Lady Eagles batch was led by a First Six – plus one – of setter Jia Morado, outside hitter Ella de Jesus, middle blockers Amy Ahomiro and Aerieal Patnongon, opposite hitter Michelle Morente, libero Denden Lazaro, and cornerstone Valdez.
That starting unit could pale in comparison to naming an all-time team with the best player in each position.
But what made that starting unit – and team, in general – special was what they accomplished in that UAAP season.
After all, the Lady Eagles, led by Thai coach Tai Bundit, went on an improbable run to their first-ever UAAP women’s volleyball championship after coming into the season with little expectations.
All eyes had been on powerhouse La Salle, which lived up to expectations after going unbeaten in 14 games in the elimination round to book an outright ticket to the finals where the Lady Spikers enjoyed a thrice-to-beat edge.
The scenario also left the three other Final Four teams in a stepladder semifinal setup for the right to face La Salle, captained by Aby Maraño.
But with Season MVP, Best Scorer, and Best Server Valdez carrying the offensive load and Best Receiver and Best Digger Lazaro anchoring the defense, the Lady Eagles finished third in the regular season with a 10-4 record.
Ateneo then showed grace under pressure in a string of do-or-die games, dispatching Adamson in the first round of the stepladder phase, then toppling twice-to-beat National University in the second round, setting up the stage for the rivalry title series against La Salle.
The Lady Eagles sustained the momentum and overcame the Lady Spikers’ thrice-to-beat advantage, closing out their archrivals in four games, including a straight-sets victory in the deciding game in front of over 21,000 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“More than ever, I think all-time favorite ko yun,” Valdez said. “Kasi that year, we really didn’t expect na makakaabot kami sa stepladder and hindi namin in-expect na makakaabot kami sa finals. At talagang pinagbigyan po kami ni Lord na mag-champion. It wasn’t that easy.”
Like naming an all-time First Six.
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