WITH four key players out, Alyssa Valdez showed the way.
Bureau of Customs moved to a share of the lead in the V-League Reinforced Conference, thanks to a 39-point performance by Valdez in a five-set nailbiter against Laoag.
Thai imports Kanjana Kuthaisong and Natthanicha Jaisaena couldm not suit up with their transfer papers still to be completed while BoC was also without locals Pau Soriano and Lilet Mabbayad, who were earlier fined and banned by their mother league Super Liga for seeing action in the V-League.
[See Pau Soriano, Mabbayad each fined P50,000, banned one year after V-League switch]
“One thing na masasabi ko, kapag binibigay mo talaga ang 101 percent mo hindi mo rin talaga alam kung anong reward ang makukuha mo,” said Valdez.
“So we just gave out 101 percent sa team and ’yun, we’re really happy,” she added.
“Manalo, matalo alam naman ni coach na binigay namin ang 100 percent namin ok lang masaya kami na nilabanan namin ang kalaban namin.”
[See Alyssa Valdez drops V-League record 39 points as Customs outlasts Laoag in five-set thriller]
The former Ateneo star, who got 29 of her total from spikes and eight from service aces, also credited her teammates.
Setter Fenela Emnas gave Valdez a lot of good looks above the net, while Rose Marie Vargas came up with 16 points for BoC.
“Siguro I’m just really happy na people around me are really supportive na, alam mo ’yun, mahal ka talaga, na sinusuportahan ka talaga, na andyan kahit na anong mangyari,” she said.
“‘Yun lang naman ang importante, sabi nga nila, good support system is one of the key para maging successful ka din.”
[See Pau Soriano, Mabbayad ready to face consequences after V-League switch prompts PSL punishment]
“Ayun, I’m really thankful for my teammates, sa coaches ko, sa dati kong teammates syempre I’ve learned a lot from them, my coaches from before and my family of course,” she added.
Valdez last year scored 35 for PLDT in a semifinal match, also a five-setter, against Army.
She also eclipsed the 38-point performance of Thai import Sontaya Keawbundit for the Lady Eagles against Lyceum in the battle for third in the in 2010.
Adamson skipper Angela Benting was the previous top-scoring local with 37 points in 2009.