TAKE it from the ‘Phenom’ herself: the Philippines, based on the trail the sport continues to blaze, can now be considered a ‘volleyball nation.’
Alyssa Valdez joined tens and thousands of volleyball fans in the Manila leg of the 2024 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) where she professed the sport’s rock-solid status in the country today.
READ: Team USA enjoying 'true home games' thanks to Filipino fans
From soldout crowds and growing fanbases across collegiate and pro leagues, Valdez believes there’s no stopping Philippine volleyball now.
“I’m gonna say it but I think right now, we are a volleyball country or a volleyball nation,” said Valdez.
“Napakasayang makita na punong-puno ‘yung arena. It’s so nice to see them both cheering for the USA and Japan. Napakagandang scenario rito sa venue. We’re just really hoping mag-continue ‘yung support ng community sa volleyball in general here in the Philippines and all over the world,” she added.
Alyssa says no stopping Philippine volleyball now
Helping sustain the sport's rise in the country is Alas Pilipinas’ most recent breakthrough in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women on home soil where the Philippines won its first medal in the six-decade history of the national federation.
For the Creamline captain and eight-time Premier Volleyball League (PVL) champion, there’s so much more to learn and adopt to sustain volleyba'll's phenomenal progress.
“Sa’min pa nga lang players, ang dami na naming natututunan visually. What more and most especially ‘yung mga nagsisimula pa lang sa volleyball,” said Valdez.
And her hope is to still be part of Philippine volleyball’s unprecedented rise.
“Magandang exposure ito sa kanila. Sana mas maganda pa ‘yung ipakita natin at mag-improve tayo as a team. Sana mag-start rin to na panoorin ‘yung Spikers’ Turf and volleyball games in general as we support these teams in the VNL“
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